RBSE Class 9 English Unseen Passages

Rajasthan Board RBSE Solutions for Class 9 English Unseen Passages Textbook Exercise Questions and Answers.

RBSE Class 9 English Unseen Passages

यातव्य बिन्दु

1.Passage को ध्यानपूर्वक पढ़िये, यदि बहुत आवश्यक हो तो दो बार पढिये। 
2. आपके Answers - दिए गये Passage के ही आधार पर होने चाहिए। कोई अनावश्यक बात न लिखें। 
3. Questions के उत्तर उसी Tense में लिखिए, जिसमें वह पूछा गया है। 
4. Answers संक्षिप्त हों तथा Correct English में हों।। 
5. Passage के उन भागों को पेंसिल से रेखांकित कर लें जो किसी Question के उत्तर हो सकते हैं।
6. Practice (अभ्यास) अत्यन्त आवश्यक है, अतः यहाँ अनेक Passages दिए गये हैं; उन्हें हल कीजिये। 

Read the following passages carefully and answer the questions given below :

Passage 1.

There are two types of people in the world. Although they have equal degrees of health and wealth and the other comforts of life, one becomes happy, the other becomes miserable. This arises from the different ways in which they consider things, persons and events, and the resulting effects upon their minds. In whatever situation men can be placed, they may find conveniences and inconveniences. 

In whatever company, they may find persons and conversations more or less pleasing. At whatever table, they may find meal and drink of better and worse taste, dishes better or worse prepared. In whatever climate, they may find good and bad weather.

Under whatever government, they may find good and bad laws, and good and bad administration of these laws. In every poem or work of genius, they may see beauties and faults. In almost every face and every person, they may discover fine features and defects, good and bad qualities. 

Questions :
1. What does the author say about the types of people? 
2. Why does this difference arise in them? 
3. What happens when men are placed in a situation? 
4. What do they experience when join a company? 
5. What is seen when they go to a table? 
6. What is realised when they live in a climate? 
7. What happens when they live under a government and administration?
8. What do they see in a literary composition? 
9. What may do they discover in every face and every person? 
10. Find the words from the passage having the following meaning : 
(a) ease 
(b) very unhappy.
Answer:
1. The author says that there are two types of people in the world.
2. This difference arises from the different ways in which they consider things. 
3. When men are placed in a situation, they find conveniences and inconveniences. 
4. When men join a company, they find persons and conversations more or less pleasing. 
5. When men go to a table, they find meal and drink of better and worse taste.
6. When men live in a climate, they find good or bad weather.
7. When men live under a govt. and administration, they find good and bad laws and administration. 
8. They see beauties and faults in a literary composition. 
9. In every face and every person, they discover fine features and defects, good and bad qualities. 
10. (a) convenience 
(b) miserable.

Passage 2.

An old philosopher friend of mine grew very cautious from experience, and carefully avoided any contact with such people. He had a thermometer to show him the temperature, and a barometer to show when the weather was likely to be good or bad. Since there is no instrument, however, to discover an unpleasant disposition in a person at first sight, he made use of his legs. 

One of his legs was remarkably handsome, the other, by some accident, was crooked and deformed. If a stranger looked at his ugly leg more than his handsome one, he doubted him. If he spoke of it and took no notice of the handsome leg, my friend had sufficient reason not to bother with him any longer. 

Not everyone has this two-legged instrument, but everyone, with a little attention, may observe signs of that kind of fault-finding disposition and make the same resolution to avoid those infected with it. I therefore advise those critical, argumentative, discontented, unhappy people that if they wish to be respected and loved by others, and happy in themselves, they should stop looking at the ugly leg.

Questions : 
1. What did the old philosopher friend do? 
2. What did he have? 
3. Is there any instrument to discover an unpleasant disposition? 
4. Explain about his two legs. 
5. What does the author say about the stranger and his ugly leg? 
6. What isn't with everyone? 
7. How can one observe the fault finding disposition ? 
8. What resolution should be made ? 
9. What is the author's advice? 
10. Find the words from the passage that mean-- 
(a) An instrument to measure temperature. 
(b) An instrument used in forecasting weather. 
Answer:
1. The old philosopher friend grew very cautious from experience and carefully avoided any contact with such people. 
2. He had a thermometer and a barometer. 
3. No, there is no such instrument to discover unpleasant disposition. 
4. One of his legs was remarkably handsome, the other, by some accident, was crooked and deformed. 
5. If a stranger looked at his ugly leg more and spoke of it, he (author) didn't bother with him. 
6. Everyone hasn't this two-legged instrument. 
7. If one pays a little attention, one can observe the fault-finding disposition. 
8. Avoid those infected persons. This resolution should be made. 
9. The author advises to stop looking at the ugly leg. 
10. (a) thermometer 
(b) barometer.

Passage 3.

The window of my house overlooks the road. The child had seated herself at my feet near my table, and was playing softly. I was still hard at work on my seventeenth chapter when suddenly Mini left her play and ran to the window crying-"A Cabuliwallah !” “A Cabuliwallah !” And indeed in the street below, there was a Cabuliwallah walking slowly along. He wore the loose untidy clothing of his people and a tall turban. 

He carried a bag on his back and boxes of grapes in his hand. I cannot tell what my daughter felt when she saw this man, but she began to call him loudly. “Ah !" thought I, "He will come in and my seventeenth chapter will never be finished !”

At that very moment the Cabuliwallah turned, and looked up at the child. When she saw this, she was overcome with terror and, running to her mother's protection, disappeared. She had a blind belief that the big man carried two or three children like herself inside the bag. Meanwhile, the fruit-seller entered my doorway and greeted me with a smile. 

Questions : 
1. What did Cabuliwallah carry in his hand ? 
2. Where from did Mini see the Cabuliwallah ? 
3. What was she doing? 
4. What was the dress of the Cabuliwallah ? 
5. Who invited Cabuliwallah to come in ? 
6. “Meanwhile the fruit-seller entered ........... 
Who does the word 'fruit-seller' here refer to ? 
7. What blind belief had she ?
8. What is the relation between Mini and the author? 
9. Why did Mini leave her play? 
10. Write the words from the passage which mean 
(a) keep safe from harm 
(b) welcomed. 
Answer:
1. He carried boxes of grapes in his hand. 
2. Mini saw the Cabuliwallah through a window. 
3. She was playing softly. 
4. He wore loose untidy clothing and a tall turban. 
5. Mini invited the Cabuliwallah. 
6. The Cabuliwallah. 
7. She had a blind belief that the man carried two or three children like herself in the bag. 
8. The relation is of daughter and father. 
9. Mini left her play because of Cabuliwallah. 
10. (a) protection 
(b) greeted. 

Passage 4.

Rustam and Sohrab came forward from their camps and looked at each other. Both of them felt great love for each other. Sohrab said to the old warrior, “I feel great love for you in my heart. Are you Rustam ? Please tell me if you are that great warrior.”

But Rustam refused to tell him who he was. And a fearful fight began between the father and the son. Sohrab twice knocked Rustam down. Then Rustam shouted his own name in great anger and this puzzled Sohrab.

His spear and shield fell from his hands. Just then Rustam's spear pierced his chest and he fell down on the sand. Then he said to Rustam, "The dear name of my father puzzled me and my spear and shield fell from my hands. Then you struck me.

I will soon die, but my father Rustam will take revenge upon you." Rustam thought Sohrab was telling a lie. But when Sohrab showed him the seal on his arm, he knew he had killed his own son. Rustam wept bitterly and all the soldiers on both sides wept with him for Sohrab. 

Questions : 
1. Who was the son-Sohrab or Rustam ? 
2. What puzzled Sohrab ? 
3. Who would take revenge upon Rustam ? 
4. Why did Rustam weep bitterly? 
5. What did Sohrab say to the old warrior ? 
6. How many times did Sohrab knock Rustam down? 
7. What did Sohrab show Rustam. 
8. What did fall from Sohrab's hands? 
9. How did Rustam and Sohrab feel when they looked at each other? 
10. Find the words from the passage which mean 
(a) a person who fights in a battle 
(b) a weapon with a long shaft and pointed tip.
Answer:
1. Sohrab was the son. 
2. The dear name of his father, puzzled 'Sohrab.' 
3. Sohrab's father Rustam would take revenge upon him. 
4. Rustam had killed his own son, Sohrab.
5. He told the old warrior that he felt a great love for him. 
6. Sohrab twice knocked Rustam down. 
7. Sohrab showed him the seal on his arm 
8. The spear and shield fell from Sohrab's hands. 
9. When Rustam and Sohrab looked at each other, they felt great love for each other. 
10. (a) warrior 
(b) spear. 

Passage 5.

On Saturday morning the postman delivered a large parcel for Tommy. The parcel contained a birthday present and it had arrived just in time.Tommy looked at the stamps on the packet. “It's from uncle Bill”, he shouted excitedly. Even though uncle Bill, was in America, he had not forgotten Tommy's birthday. Mother made Tommy promise not to open the parcel until the following day. 

"Your birthday is not till tomorrow”, she said. “You should open it in the morning together with your other presents.”  The next day, father was just as excited as Tommy when they discovered that the parcel contained an electric train set.

“Let's go upstairs and put it together”, father said. Tommy remained with his father for about an hour but finally got bored with the train set and went into the living room. At about lunch time, Tommy's mother came into the living room'. "Where's your father?” She asked, “I've been looking for him everywhere."  “He's upstairs, Mum”, Tommy answered. "He put my train set together this morning, and he has been playing with it ever since." 

Questions : 
1. Who sent the parcel for Tommy ? 
2. What was the present in the parcel ? 
3. How did Tommy know that the parcel came from America ? 
4. Write from the passage the sentence which shows that Tommy got more than one  present? 
5. What was Tommy's father doing after Tommy went into the living room? 
6. Why did Tommy's mother want him to open the parcel the next day? 
7. Why didn't Tommy stay upstairs longer? 
8. What happened on Saturday morning? 
9. What did his father say to him the next day? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) a person who delivers letters 
(b) gift. 
Answer:
1. Uncle Bill sent the parcel for Tommy. 
2. An electric train set. 
3. Tommy looked at the stamps on the packet. 
4. “You should open it in the morning together with your other presents. 
5. He was playing with the electric train-set. 
6. He should open it on the day of his birthday.
7. He got bored. 
8. On Saturday morning the postman delivered a large parcel for Tommy. 
9. Father said that they should go upstairs and put it together. 
10. (a) postman 
(b) present. 

Passage 6.

All the housewives who went to the Kalpatharu Supermarket in Bangalore had one great ambition : to be the lucky customer who did not have to pay for her shopping. For this was what the notice just inside the entrance promised. It said : “Remember, once a week, one of our customers gets free goods. This may be your lucky day!' 

For several weeks Mrs. Batliwala hoped, like many of her friends, to be the lucky customer. Unlike her friends, she never gave up hope. Her kitchen was full of things which she did not need. Her husband failed to dissuade her. She dreamed of the day, when the manager of the Supermarket would approach her and say “Madam, this is your lucky day. Everything in your basket is free.” 

One Saturday morning, Mrs. Batliwala finished her shopping and left the Supermarket. But soon she discovered that she had forgotten to buy tea. She rushed back, got the tea and went towards the Cash-desk. As she did so, she saw the manager of the Supermarket come up to her. “Madam”, he said, holding out his hand, 'I want to congratulate you ! You are our lucky customer and everything you have in your basket is free !' 

Questions : 
1. 'It said.? What does 'It' stand for? 
2. What happened on lucky days? 
3. Why did Mrs. Batliwala buy things which she did not need? 
4. Why did Mrs. Batliwala go to the Supermarket again on the last day of the week ? 
5. Why did the manager congratulate Mrs. Batliwala? 
6. What did Mrs. Batliwala get as a lucky customer? 
7. Who had one great ambition? 
8. What did the notice promise? 
9. Who failed to dissuade her? 
10. Find the words from the passage which mean ............
(a) a large self service store selling food stuffs and household articles 
(b) a strong desire. 
Answer:
1. 'It' stands for the notice. 
2. One of the customers got free goods. 
3. Because she always hoped to be the lucky customer one day. 
4. She went to buy tea. 
5. Because she was the lucky customer of the day. 
6. She got tea only. 
7. All the housewives who went to Kalpatharu Supermarket in Bangalore had one great ambition. 
8. The notice promised that one of their customers gets free goods once a week. 
9. Mrs. Batliwala's husband failed to dissuade her. 
10. (a) super market. 
(b) ambition. 

Passage 7.

When Mr. Jones went to restaurant one day, he left his coat near the door. There was nothing in the pockets of the coat when he left it, so he was very surprised when he took his coat after his meal and found the pocket full of jewellery ! There was a waiter near the door, so Mr. Jones said to him “Somebody has made a mistake. He has put some jewellery in my coat. Take it and when he comes back, give it to him.” The waiter took it and went away. Suddenly, another man came in with a coat just like Mr. Jones's, "I am sorry”, said this man. 

“I made a mistake. I took your coat and you have got mine. Please give me my coat and jewellery”. Mr. Jones answered, “I gave the jewellery to the waiter. He will give it to you." Mr. Jones called the manager of the restaurant, but the manager said, “We have no waiters here. We have only waitresses.” “You gave the jewellery to a thief !” shouted the other man. “I shall send for the police !" Mr. Jones was frightened and paid the man a lot of money for the jewellery. 

Questions : 
1. The waiter took it and went away. 
What does ‘it here refer to? 
2. What did Jones think about the jewellery in the pocket? 
3. Why did Jones go to the restaurant? 
4. What did the other man want Jones to do? 
5. What did Jones do to save himself? 
6. “When he left it.... 
What does the word ‘it here refer to? 
7. Where did Mr. Jones go one day? 
8. What did Mr. Jones say to the waiter? 
9. What did the manager reply? 
10. Find the words from the passage which mean 
(a) jewels or similar ornaments to be worn. 
(b) a man employed to serve customers in a restaurant etc.
Answer:
1. “it' here refers to the coat which Mr. Jones gave to the waiter. 
2. Somebody had put some jewellery in his pocket. 
3. Jones went to the restaurant to take his meal. 
4. The other man wanted Jones to return his coat and jewellery. 
5. Jones had to pay a lot of money for the jewellery. 
6. Here it refers to Mr. Jones coat. 
7. Mr. Jones went to restaurant one day. 
8. Mr. Jones said to the waiter that somebody by mistake put some jewellery in his coat 
and asked the waiter to help the jewellery and give it to the owner. 
9. The manager replied that they had only waitresses. 
10. (a) jewellery
(b) waiter. 

Passage 8.

A man who sold plants always gave special instructions when he had sold a young tree or shrub. He would hand each customer a small bottle of liquid. “You must take this”, he said, “because the tree will grow properly, only if you give it two drops every day before you water it.

Do not forget or the plant will die.” He always promised his customers that if they followed the instructions and the plant died within six months, he would give them another tree. One day I said to him, “May I ask you what the magic liquid is.

It must be something very special.” “I shall tell you”, he replied. “if you can keep a secret; it is just coloured water." I looked at him in surprise. 'Yes', he said, "It makes people water the plant every day otherwise they forget.” And the trick had worked. In ten years he did not replace a single tree. 

Questions : 
1. ................before you water it. 
What does 'it' here refer to? 
2. Who gave special instructions? 
3. What did he want to know of the man? 
4. How was the liquid to be used? 
5. How many people got trees free? 
6. What was the condition for free replacement of the plant? 
7. When did the man give special instructions? 
8. What secret did the man reveal? 
9. For how many years had he been selling plants? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) a person buying goods or services from a shop etc
(b) an explanation of how to use something. 
Answer:
1. “it here refers to the tree.
2. A man who sold plants always gave special instructions. 
3. He wanted to know what the magic liquid was. 
4. To give two drops of the liquid daily before watering the plant. 
5. No one got any tree free.
6. If they followed the instructions and the plant died within six months, he would give them another tree. 
7. When he had sold a young tree or shrub, the man gave special instruction. 
8. The man revealed that it was only a coloured water.
9. He had been selling plants for ten years. 
10. (a) customer 
(b) instruction. 

Passage 9. 

Surya Singh, prince of Manipur, once came to the city of Delhi on business but because it was secret, he did not bring any servant with him. This explains why a man like the prince was travelling alone. On the way he saw a man who was weak and tired. The man was sitting beside the road. 
"Which way are you going?" 
“Good sir," was the reply, “I am going to Delhi and must be there before night, but I shall never reach the city because I am tired.” Surya Singh got off the horse, and told the man to get on it instead of him. 
The man seemed to be waiting for this offer and he gladly got on the horse. Surya Singh walked beside him. At the city he asked the man to get down. The man looked surprised, “Why should I get off my horse?" he said. 

Questions : 
1. Who was the prince of Manipur ? 
2. Why did Surya Singh come to Delhi? 
3. Why was Surya Singh travelling alone? 
4. Where did Surya Singh meet the man? 
5. How did the man look?
6. What was the man doing? 
7. Who, from among Surya Singh and the man, is a good human being ? 
8. What was the man's reply about going to Delhi? 
9. What did the man say to Surya Singh at the city? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) a sovereign's son 
(b) happily 
Answer:
1. Surya Singh was the prince of Manipur. 
2. He came to Delhi on business. 
3. Surya Singh was travelling alone because his business was secret. 
4. He met the man on the way when he was going to Delhi. 
5. The man looked weak and tired. 
6. The man was sitting beside the road. 
7. Surya Singh is a good human being. 
8. The man's reply was that he was going to Delhi and had to be there before night but he would never reach the city because he was tired. 
9. At the city the man asked Surya Singh why he should get off his horse. 
10. (a) prince 
(b) gladly. 

Passage 10.

The camel is the oldest of domestic animals. It has been used for thousands of years by the desert people of Africa and Asia to supply many of their needs. On the fertile edges of the desert; camels pull ploughs, turn wheels to irrigate the fields and carry goods to market. In the desert itself, they are still almost the only means of transport.

They supply food, milk and clothing in the form of wool and leather. This useful animal is well adapted to life in harsh, arid lands. The Arabian camel has one hump, the Bactrian camel has two. The hump is, in fact, a store of fat which is used as a source of energy when food and water are scarce. When it does drink, the camel can take up to 100 liters of water in ten minutes. 

The camel has broad, soft feet for a steady grip in the sand. A thick skin protects it from the fierce daytime sun and bitterly cold nights. The camel's eyes have three eyelids to help keep out sand; its ears and nose are also adapted to keep out sand storms called “The ships of the desert', they can carry loads of 200 kilos and more, travelling up to 160 kilometre a day. Camels eat grass, dates and grain when available. Deep in the desert they survive on dry leaves, seeds and bones. 

Questions : 
1. For what has the camel been used? 
2. How is it useful on the fertile edges of the desert? 
3. What do they supply? 
4. What is the use of the hump?
5. What is informed about its feet and skin?
6. How is its eyes, ears and nose useful? 
7. What information is given about its height and weight?
8. What is its load carrying and travelling capacity? 
9. What has been told about its food? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) of home or household 
(b) a baron uninhabited sandy area.
Answer:
1. Camel has been used to supply many of the needs of the desert people of Africa and Asia. 
2. On the fertile edges of the desert, camels pull ploughs, turn wheels to irrigate fields and carry goods to market. 
3. They supply food, milk and clothing in the form of wood and leather. 
4. Hump is a store of fat used as a source of energy when food and water are scarce. 
5. It has broad, soft feet for a steady grip and thick skin protects from heat and cold. 
6. Its eyes had three eyelids to help keep out sand; ears and nose are also adapted to keep out sand storms. 
7. Camels stand about 2 meters high at the shoulder and weigh 500-800 kilos.  
8. They can carry loads of 200 kilos and travel upto 160 kilometres a day. 
9. Camels eat grass, dates and grain when available. Deep in the desert, they survive on dry leaves, seeds and bones. 
10. (a) domestic 
(b) desert.
Answer:
1. Camel has been used to supply many of the needs of the desert people of Africa and Asia. 
2. On the fertile edges of the desert, camels pull ploughs, turn wheels to irrigate fields and carry goods to market. 
3. They supply food, milk and clothing in the form of wood and leather. 
4. Hump is a store of fat used as a source of energy when food and water are scarce. 
5. It has broad, soft feet for a steady grip and thick skin protects from heat and cold. 
6. Its eyes had three eyelids to help keep out sand; ears and nose are also adapted to keep out sand storms. 
7. Camels stand about 2 meters high at the shoulder and weigh 500-800 kilos.  
8. They can carry loads of 200 kilos and travel upto 160 kilometres a day. 
9. Camels eat grass, dates and grain when available. Deep in the desert, they survive on dry leaves, seeds and bones. 
10. (a) domestic 
(b) desert.  

Passage 11. 

India is a land of pilgrims and pilgrimages. These holy places, whether in the hills or in the plains, are generally situated on river banks or by the sea. It is not only religious people who visit these places of pilgrimage, but also travellers and sight-seers from all over India and even from abroad. Wherever two or more rivers meet, pilgrims come to bathe and worship, because that place is supposed to be holy.

One such place is the tiny island of Rameshwaram in South India. It is one of the four dhams, most important pilgrim centres for a devout Hindu. According to legend it was from here that Lord Rama with the help of Hanuman and his monkey force built a stone bridge to Lanka, just 24 kilometres away.

The island is formed in the shape of a conch; its tapered end is a sandy causeway to Dhanushkodi, so named after Lord Rama's dhanush or bow. Unfortunately Dhanushkodi was washed away by a cyclone in 1964. The bridge which connects the island with the mainland is India's longest bridge across the open sea. 

Questions : 
1. What kind of land is India? 
2. Where are the holy places? 
3. Who visit these places of pilgrimage? 
4. What is the significance of Rameshwaram? 
5.  is the legend about it? 
6. What is its shape?' 
7. How is its tapered end? 
8. What happened in 1964? 
9.What are the features of this bridge? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) a person who travels a sacred place as an act of religious devotion. 
(b) a structure providing a way over a gap or other obstacle. 
Answer:
1. India is a land of pilgrims and pilgrimages. 
2. The holy places are generally on the banks of rivers or by the sea. 
3. Pilgrims, travellers and sight-seers visit them. 
4. It is one of the four dhams, most important pilgrim centre for a devout Hindu. 
5. The legend is that from here Lord Rama made a bridge to Lanka.
6. The island is formed in the shape of a conch. 
7. Its tapered end is a sandy causeway to Dhanushkodi. 
8. Dhanushkodi was washed away by a cyclone in 1964. 
9. It connects the island with the main land and is India's longest bridge across the open sea. 
10. (a) pilgrim 
(b) bridge. 
Answer:
1. India is a land of pilgrims and pilgrimages. 
2. The holy places are generally on the banks of rivers or by the sea. 
3. Pilgrims, travellers and sight-seers visit them. 
4. It is one of the four dhams, most important pilgrim centre for a devout Hindu. 
5. The legend is that from here Lord Rama made a bridge to Lanka.
6. The island is formed in the shape of a conch. 
7. Its tapered end is a sandy causeway to Dhanushkodi. 
8. Dhanushkodi was washed away by a cyclone in 1964. 
9. It connects the island with the main land and is India's longest bridge across the open sea. 
10. (a) pilgrim 
(b) bridge. 

Passage 12:

In many countries only one language-mostly the mother-tongue--is enough to satisfy the need for expression of their inhabitants. In India, however, the position is more complicated. Here an educated man is called upon to master more than one language. There is, first of all, the language that he learns on his mother's lap, and through which he expresses his first needs and feelings. 

Naturally, it is in this that he gains the most proficiency. But, since India is a very large country, we really need an extra language as a means of communicating with states other than our own. It is for this reason that many people want a lingua franca for India--but even this is not enough. On top of this, an educated Indian requires the mastery of an international language, one that is widely understood and is used in the dealings of one country with another. 

Ideally speaking then, the educated Indian should be able to read and write in three languages and, moreover, should be able to express himself in all the three with ease and fluency. As our contact with the English language has been long and it is the most widely used language in the world, it is in our own interest to be proficient in this language.

Questions : 
1. For what is mother-tongue enough? 
2. What is the position in India? 
3. What is a lingua franca? 
4. What does an educated Indian require? 
5. How many languages does an educated Indian master? 
6. Which is the international language? 
7. Which language is mother-tongue? 
8. Why do many people want a lingua franca for India? 
9. How is it in our own interest to be proficient in English? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) a system of words and their use
(b) competency. 
Answer:
1. Mother-tongue is enough to satisfy the need for expression. 
2. The position in India is more complicated. 
3. A lingua franca is a language for all the citizens. 
4. An educated Indian requires the mastery of an international language. 
5. An educated Indian masters three languages. 
6. English is the international language. 
7. Mother-tongue is that one learns on his mother's lap. 
8. People want so to communicate with states other than their own.
9. It is in our own interest because it is the most widely used language in the world. 
10. (a) language 
(b) proficiency 

Passage 13.

One of the greatest problems facing the world today is the rapidly increasing pressure of population on land and land resources. It is not so much the actual population of the world but its rate of increase which is important. It works out to be about 1.6 percent per annum net increase, or about forty to fifty-five million additional people every year. As for birth rate, every second three babies are born somewhere in the world. Why is this enormous increase in population taking place? It is really due to the spread of knowledge and the practice of death control'. 

Death control recognises the work of the doctors and the health services in keeping alive people who, a few years ago, would have died of some serious diseases. Scientists are at work stamping out deadly diseases. Medical care helps people to live longer.

We used to think before that seventy was a good age; now eighty or ninety are coming to be recognised as a normal age for human beings. People live longer and fewer children are dying, so population of the world is shooting up. 

Questions : 
1. What is the greatest problem? 
2. What is actually alarming? 
3. What is the net increase? 
4. What is the birth rate? 
5. Why is it taking place? 
Unseen Passare death control fit important? ive longer? 
6. What does death control recognise? 
7. How is the work of scientist important? 
8. How is medical care helping people to live longer? 
9. How many children die now? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) the inhabitants of an area 
(b) become greater. 
Answer:
1. Rapidly increasing pressure of population on land and resources is the greatest problem. 
2. Its rate of increasing is actually alarming. 
4. The birth rate is three babies in one second. 
5. It is due to spread of knowledge and death control. 
6. It recognises the work of doctors and health services. 
7. It is important for stamping out deadly diseases. 
8. People now live upto 80 or 90. 
9. Fewer children are now dying. 
10. (a) population 
(b) increase. 

Passage 14.

The coming of machines has enabled people to produce far more goods than they had done in the past. Because of machines there are many more things of all kinds that people want in the world today than there ever were before.

Now this great increase of goods ought to have benefitted everybody bringing a new comfort into the world and an abundance of all the things that people want. And it is, in fact true that common people in civilized countries live better than they used to do before goods were produced by machines. 

But they do not live as much better as they ought to do. Where then has this new wealth that the machines have produced gone? Most of it has gone into the pockets of a very few people.

The rich are much richer than they were before. Thus the good things science has brought into the world have not been distributed equally a fair share to everybody. And much of the money has just been wasted : for example, on wars, and on guns, battleships and tanks for fighting wars.

Questions : 
1. How has coming of machines enabled us? 
2. Why do we have more things?
3. How has this now incrcase benefitted people? 
4. What is true about common people? 
5. Why don't common people live as better as they ought to live? 
6. In what have we failed? 
7. On what has much of the money been wasted? 
8. What is the state of the rich? 
9. Most of it has gone..... 'To what does it here refer to? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) an apparatus with several parts fitted mechanically. 
(b) articles for trade. 
Answer:
1. The coming of machines has enabled people to produce for more goods. 
2. We have many more things because of machines. 
3. The new increase has brought a new comfort into the world. 
4. It is true about common people that they live better than they used to live before. 
5. Common people don't live as better as they ought to live because the new wealth has gone into the pockets of a very few people. 
6. We have failed to distribute equal wealth. 
7. It has been wasted on wars, guns, battleships and tanks. 
8. The rich are much richer. 
9. Here it refers to the new wealth. 
10. (a) machine 
(b) goods. 

Passage 15.

In every country people imagine that they are the best and the cleverest and the others are not so good as they are. The English-man thinks that he and his country are the best; the Frenchman is very proud of France and everything French. The Germans and Italians think no less of their countries and many Indians imagine that India is in many ways the greatest country in the world. This is wrong. Everybody wants to think well of himself and his country. But really there is no person, who has not got some good and some bad qualities. 

In the same way there is no country which is not partly good and partly bad. We must take the good wherever we find it and try to remove the bad whatever it may be. We are, of course, most concerned with our own country, India. Unhappily, it is in a bad way today.

Most of our people are poor and unhappy. They have no joy in their lives. We have to find out how we can make them happier. We have to see what is good in our ways and customs and try to keep it, and whatever is bad we have to throw away. If we find anything good in other countries, we should certainly take it. 

Questions : 
1. What do people think in every country? 
2. What do the Europeans think? 
3. What do Indians imagine? 
4. What is the reality about every person and every country? 
5. What must we do? 
6. To what are we most concerned? 
7. In what respect is India in a bad way today? 
8. What should we throw away? 
9. What should be our attitude towards other countries? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) nations 
(b) human beings. 
Answer:
1. They think they are the best and the cleverest. 
2. The Europeans think that they and their countries are the best. 
3. Indians imagine that India is greatest in many ways. 
4. Every person has good and bad qualities. Every nation is partly good and partly bad. 
5. We must take the good and remove the bad. 
6. We are most concerned with India. 
7. It is so because most of Indians are poor and unhappy. 
8. Whatever is bad is to be thrown away. 
9. If we find anything good in other countries, we should take it. 
10. (a) countries 
(b) people. 

Passage 16.

Penicillin is one of the most useful drugs invented by man. With its help we can heal wounds caused by bacteria which cannot otherwise be healed. To begin with, very few people knew of this wonderful discovery and its uses. First scientists and then ministers of governments were interested in it.

Since penicillin could save the wounded soldiers, it could be helpful in war. And so they all decided to encourage the process of its manufacture. Vast factories were set up for preparing it. Lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers were saved with its help. 

Penicillin, when introduced into the stream of the human blood, acts as an aid to those parts which are always fighting the deadly germs. It has not power over every kind of bacteria; but certain kinds of destroyed by penicillin in the great majority of cases. 

Questions : 
1. Name the most useful drug. 
2. What can we do with its help? 
3. Who were interested first in it? 
4. What are the chief uses of penicillin? 
5. What was done for preparing it? 
6. How does penicillin act in human body? 
7. Can penicillin destroy all kinds of germs? 
8. How was it useful in war ? 
9. “It has not power......? To what does it here refer to? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) a substance used in medicine 
(b) something that has been found out. 
Answer:
1. Penicillin is the most useful drug. 
2. With its help we can heal wounds. 
3. Scientists and then ministers of governments were interested in it. 
4. It can heal wounds caused by bacteria and is helpful in war and can save soldiers in the battlefields. 
5. Vast factories were set up for preparing it. 
6. It acts as an aid to those parts which are always fighting the deadly germs. 
7. No, it can't but certain kinds are destroyed by it. 
8. Lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers were saved with its help so it's useful in  war. 
9. Here it refers to penicillin. 
10. (a) drug 
(b) discovery. 

Passage 17.

Too much importance must not be attached to the wrong acts done by children, particularly if they happen to be of a minor nature. Many boys and girls at a younger age are likely to be in the habit of stealing, neglecting their studies, slipping out of their classes, or using bad language.

In nearly every case, the root cause of the trouble is the fear that proper care of the child is not taken in the house, or sufficient interest is not shown in him. But if the parents were wise, they would correct the faults of their children by paying more attention to them.

Whatever the case, one thing should never be done. The bad things in the children should never be repressed, that is, they should not be compelled to change for the better under fear of the rod. Physical punishment does not improve them. It only makes them worse than before. 

Questions : 
1. Where must we not attach too much importance? 
2. What do boys and girls at a young age do? 
3. What is the root cause of their misbehaviour? 
4. What is the duty of a wise parent? 
5. What is the one thing that should never be done? 
6. Why shouldn't a rod be used to make the children better?
7. When do children do wrong acts? 
8. What doesn't improve them? 
9. .............they should not be........,' To whom does they here refer to? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) controlled 
(b) young human beings who are not yet adults. 
Answer:
1. We mustn't attach too much importance to the wrong acts of children.
2. They are likely to be in the habit of stealing, neglecting studies, slipping out of the classes and using bad language. 
3. The root cause is the fear of improper attention and insufficient interest in him. 
4. The duty is to correct the faults by paying more attention. 
5. The bad thing in children should never be repressed. This is the one thing. 
6. It is so because physical punishment never improves them. 
7. Children do wrong acts when they happen to be of a minor nature. 
8. A rod doesn't improve them. 
9. Here they refers to children. 
10. (a) repressed 
(b) children. 

Passage 18.

“My dear boy”, said my companion, with a smile, “Do you know that you are talking in  people should be better and happier, myself among the number. But how am I to set about it? Most people's idea of being better and happier is to grow richer and make other people serve them.

They want more things to eat and drink and wear; they want success and honour and power and position. Nothing is more unwise and laughable than ordinary people's aims and ambitions. I don't want people to be only richer and more prosperous.

Wealth and the pleasures of the world and the good things of life do not make one truly happy in the long run, these lead to moral evils. I want them to be simpler and more honest and more loving and sacrificing. Then alone will they be happy and make others happy.” 

Questions : 
1. What did the companion say with a smile? 
2. What does the other companion desire? 
3. What is most people's idea? 
4. What do most of the people of the world want? 
5. What is more unwise and laughable? 
6. What does the author not want? 
7. What do wealth and pleasure not do? 
8. What happens in the long run? 
9. How can true happiness be found? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) a feeling of enjoyment 
(b) concerned with right or wrong conduct. 
Answer:
1. The companion said with a smile that he was talking in the manner of the people of the world. 
2. He desires that people should be better and happier including him. 
3. Most people's idea is to grow richer and make other people serve them. 
4. They want more things to eat and drink and wear. 
5. Ordinary people's aims and ambitions are more unwise and laughable. 
6. The author doesn't want people only to richer and more prosperous. 
7. Wealth and pleasure do not make one truely happy in the long run. 
8. Wealth, pleasures etc. lead to moral evils in the long run. 
9. True happiness can be found by being simpler, honest, more loving and sacrificing. 
10. (a) pleasure 
(b) moral. 

Passage 19.

Some people think that the aim of education is merely to give knowledge. These people want students to read books, and do nothing else but add to their knowledge. Others believe that knowledge alone is not enough; only that which enables a man to earn his living can be called education.

Such people think that bread is more important than anything else. Still others believe that education should aim solely at making good citizens and good patriots. All these people see only one of the several purposes of education. As a matter of fact, education should aim at all these three things together.

It should give men knowledge, make them self-reliant and able to serve others. Education should not produce citizens who, while they love their own freedom, take away the freedom of others. It should produce men who love their own country but who do not want to harm other countries. 

Questions : 
1. What do some people think? 
2. What do these people want to students? 
3. What do others believe? 
4. According to the author, what can be called education? 
5. What do such people think? 
6. What is others belief still? 
7. What kind of citizens should education not produce? 
8. What kind of citizens should education produce? 
9. What is the true aim of education? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) a person with full rights in a country 
(b) teaching of people specially in schools. 
Answer:
1. Some people think that the aim of education is to give knowledge. 
2. These people want students to read books and do nothing else. 
3. Others believe that knowledge alone is not enough. 
4. That enables a man to earn living is education according to the author. 
5. Such people think that bread is more important than anything else.
6. Still others believe that education should aim solely at making good citizens and good patriots. 
7. It should not produce citizens who take away the freedom of others. 
8. It should produce men who love their own country but who don't harm other countries. 
9. The true aim of education is to give men knowledge, make them self-reliant and able to serve others. 
10. (a) citizen 
(b) education 

Passage 20.

Experiments are sometimes made by experts to find out how many errors people do make in their statements. Here is one experiment which was tried. Some students at a university were shown on a screen a picture of a bull-fight. They were then asked to write a short account of what they had seen. When this was finished they were told to put number on every statement made-1.

if they were fairly sure about it, and 2. if they were prepared to swear to the statement on oath. Every student had at least ten percent error in the statement he was prepared to swear to on oath, and considerably more than ten percent in the other group. Here, for example, was one mistake. 

A student saw the bull had its tongue out. Yet when he was shown the picture again, he saw that the bull's mouth was closed, but that, because its head was turned to the side, the ear looked like the tongue. So whenever you are arguing with someone about a point, remember that there is quite a good chance that you are wrong, however confident you feel about it. 

Questions : 
1. What do experts sometimes do? 
2. On which students was this experiment tried? 
3. What was shown to the students on the screen? 
4. What were they asked to do after screening? 
5. What was the extent of error in their statements? 
6. Give one example of a mistake in the statements. 
7. What was the objective of the experiment? 
8. What moral lesson can we draw from it? 
9. "They were then.......? To whom does they here refer to? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) a scientific test to find out something 
(b) a clear expression of something.  
Answer:
1. Experts sometimes make experiments.
2. This experiment was tried on the university students. 
3. A picture of a bull fight was shown. 
4. They were asked to write a short account of what they had seen. 
5. Every student had 10% error. 
6. One student took the bull's ear as the tongue.
7. The objective was to show that there is quite a good chance that we are wrong 
however confident we may feel. 
8. We shouldn't be adamant.
9. Here they refers to the university students. 
10. (a) experiment 
(b) statement. 

Passage 21.

It is not always easy in company to speak frankly and if you don't want to be considered a bad-mannered person, you have to watch constantly for signs. It is not easy,  for example, to listen for long to any person. Try in company to take only a fair share of the conversation.

If there are two of you, take half of it. When you have said a little, keep quiet, and give your friend a chance to say something. If he does not talk, he probably does not want you to talk either. Many a young man or woman talks away, thinking the company is delighted to hear him or her and everyone is really exhausted and angry.

Don't think you can say unpleasant things about someone behind his back and not be found out. It is surprising how the remarks usually find their way to the person with your name attached, so to speak. Whatever you say, always assume, that the person may overhear and modify your remarks accordingly. All experienced people act in this way. 

Questions : 
1. What can't we do in a company? 
2. Why can't we listen for long to one person in a company?
3. When we are two, what should we do? 
4. 'If he does not.............' To whom does 'he' here refer to? 
5. Mention two characteristics which belong to a bad-mannered person. 
6. What good manners should you observe when you are in a company? 
7. Why shouldn't one say unpleasant things about someone behind his back? 
8. What is foolish about the behaviour of a young man or woman who 'talks away all  the time? 
9. What do experienced people do? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) To change something slightly 
(b) To say or write something.
Answer:
1. We can't speak frankly in a company. 
2. We can't do so because we have to share time with others too.
3. When we are two, we should take only half time. 
4. Here ‘he' refers to the friend. 
5. You are bad-mannered if you speak frankly in a company and listen a person for long. 
6. In a company take only a fair share of the conversation and give your friend chance to say something. 
7. One should do so because the remarks reach the person and make the relationship strained 
8. They think that the company is delighted while the company is exhausted and angry. And this is their foolishness. 
9. Experienced people always assume that the person may overhear so they keep the remarks modified. 
10. (a) modify 
(b) remarks. 

Passage 22.

A certain king once fell ill and doctors declared that only a sudden fright would restore him to health but the king was not a man for anyone to play tricks on, except his fool. One day, when the fool was with him in his boat, he cleverly pushed the king into the water.

Help had already been arranged and the king was drawn ashore and put to bed. The fright, the bath and the rest in bed cured the diseased king; but he was so angry with the fool that he turned him out of the country. The fool returned, however, and the king ordered him to be put to death.

Saying privately that he would only repay fright with fright, he directed the executioner not to use the axe but to let fall a single drop of water on the fool's neck. The fool was led to the gallows. The executioner dropped a drop of water on the fool's neck, and amidst shouts and laughter, the fool was asked to rise and thank the king for his kindness. But the fool never moved; he was dead-killed by his master's joke. 
 
 Questions : 
1. What happened to the king? 
2. How could the sick king be cured? 
3. Who alone could afford to play tricks on the king and why? 
4. What did the fool do in the boat? 
5. What was done to save the king? 
6. What cured the sick king? 
7. Why did the king turn the fool out of his country? 
8. Why did the king order for him to put to death? 
9. How did the fool meet his end? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) a shock 
(b) a place meant for execution. 
Answer:
1. The king fell ill. 
2. The sick king could be cured only by a sudden fright. 
3. His fool could play tricks because the king was not a man for anyone to play tricks on. 
4. In the boat, the fool cleverly pushed the king into the water. 
5. Help had already been arranged and the king was drawn ashore and put to bed. This was done. 
6. The fright, the bath and the rest cured the king. 
7. The king did so because he was angry with the fool. 
8. The king ordered so because he wanted only to repay fright with fright. 
9. The fool died because of fright. The executioner had dropped only a drop of water on his neck and he thought it an attack of the axe. 
10. (a) fright 
(b) gallow 

Passage 23.

It is perfectly natural for us to use dictionary when we come across an unfamiliar word. If someone advises us not to use it, the advice will, of course, look exaggerated. But there is some truth in it. As in so many other cases, here also, there are arguments in favour and against. 

Some students use the dictionary too much which may not be necessary at all. Dictionary must be used but not too much. We should rather develop the skill and habit of inferring the meanings of words from the context. Too much attention to vocabulary can rather have a harmful effect on our reading habit. If we stop again and again to look up new words in a dictionary, it may actually make us less effective readers. It may not only slow down our reading speed, it may also interrupt our thought processes which should be engaged in following the development of thought in the text. 

When reading an article in a newspaper or magazine we are likely to meet a number of words and expressions which we do not know. In such a case we nccdn't have a feeling of despair or immediately rush to consult a dictionary. First we must remember that it is not always necessary to understand every single word to understand an article or any piece of writing. Secondly, that it is often possible to work out the mcaning of a word. 

Questions : 
1. What do we do when we come across an unfamiliar word? 
2. What type of arguments are there about its use?
3. Which skill should be developed?
4. What is the impact of too much attention to vocabulary? 
5. What do some students do? 
6. What makes us less effective readers? 
7. Where do we meet with new words and expressions? 
8. What is not always necessary? 
9. How can you work out the meaning of a new word? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) unknown 
(b) a book that gives meaning of words of a language. 
Answer:
1. We use dictionary for unfamiliar words. 
2. There are arguments in favour and against. 
3. Infer the meaning from the context. This skill should be developed. 
4. The impact is this that it mars reading habit. 
5. Some students use the dictionary too much. 
6. To stop to look up new words in a dictionary makes us less effective readers. 
7. In an article or a newspaper or a magazine we can meet with new words and expressions. 
8. To understand every single word is not always necessary. 
9. We can do so by inference from context. 
10. (a) unfamiliar 
(b) dictionary 

Passage 24.

A few years ago mosquitoes, flies, ticks, fleas, and related biting and blood-sucking insects, were considered by most people to be unworthy objects of serious study, but it is now known that they are most important factors in the spread of diseases, especially in tropical countries.

It has been established by many investigators that these creatures are the sole agents of inoculation into man of the germs of malaria, yellow fever, sleeping sickness, plague, typhus fever, recurrent fever and other maladies which have brought suffering and death to millions of people. 

In most cases they are not merely mechanical bearers of disease germs from one victim to another, for if that were so the problem of discovering the part they play would be relatively simple. Usually their bodies are breeding places of microscopic organisms which they suck from the blood of one victim--beast or man-and these parasites are afterwards injected into other victims.

Insects have thus been shown to be intimately related to the life of man; and a branch of study which was formerly considered to be of purely zoological interest has proved to be closely connected branch of study is known as bacteriology. 

 
Questions : 
1. Who are the most important factors in the spread of diseases?
2. What type of insects are they? 
3. Which diseases are caused by them? 
4. What is the outcome of these maladies? 
5. For what are their bodies? 
6. To what are the insects related?
7. What is bacteriology? 
8. What are injected into another victims? 
9. ...................they are most important..........". To whom does 'they' here refer to? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) diseases or ailments 
(b) a very small living thing that causes disease.
Answer:
1. They are mosquitoes, flies, ticks, fleas etc. 
2. They are biting and blood sucking insects. 
3. Malaria, yellow fever, sleeping sickness, plague, typhus fever, recurrent fever etc. are caused by them.
4. The outcome is the suffering and death to millions. 
5. Their bodies are for breeding microscopic organisms. 
6. The insects are related to the life of man. 
7. The branch for the scientific study of bacteria is called bacteriology. 
8. The parasites are injected into the other's body. 
9. Here they' refers to the blood sucking insects. 
10. (a) maladies
(b) germ 

Passage 25.

One of the most famous monuments in the world, the Statue of Liberty, was presented to the United States of America by the people of France. The great statue which was designed by the sculptor Auguste Bartholdi, took ten years to complete. The actual figure was made of copper supported by a metal framework which had been specially constructed by Eiffel. Before it could be transported to the United States, a site had to be found for it and a pedestal had to be built. The site chosen was an island at the entrance of the New York Harbour. 

By 1884, a statue which was 151 feet tall, had been erected in Paris. The following year, it was taken to pieces and sent to America. By the end of October, 1886, the statue had been put together again and it was officially presented to the American people by Bartholdi. Ever since then, the great monument had been a symbol of liberty for the millions of people who have passed through New York Harbour to make their homes in America. 

Questions : 
1. What is the name of this famous monument? 
2. Where is it installed? 
3. Which country has presented it to which country? 
4. Who designed it and in how many years? 
5. What detail can you give about its making? 
6. Where was the site chosen for it? 
7. What happened by 1884-85? 
8. What happened by the end of Oct., 1886? 
9. Of what is it a symbol? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) a figure made of stone etc. 
(b) freedom. 
Answer:
1. The name of this famous monument is the Statue of Liberty. 
2. It is installed in the United States of America. 
3. France has presented it to the USA. 
4. Auguste Bartholdi designed it in 10 years. 
5. The actual figure was made of copper supported by a metal framework. 
6. The site chosen was an island at the entrance of the New York Harbour.
7. By 1884, 151 feet tall statue was erected in Paris and the following year sent to America in pieces. 
8. By the end of Oct. 1886, the statue had been put together again and was officially presented to the Americans by Bartholdi. 
9. It is a symbol of liberty: 
10. (a) statue
(b) liberty 

Passage 26.

Village Swaraj is that it is complete republic; independent of its neighbours for its vital wants, and yet dependent for many others in which dependence is necessary. Thus the first concern of every village will be to grow its own food crop and cotton for its clothes.

It should have a reserve for its cattle, recreation and playgrounds for adults and children. Then if there is more land available, it will grow usually money. crops, thus excluding ganja, tobacco, opium and the like. The village will maintain a village theatre, school and public hall.

It will have its own water works ensuring clean supply. This can be done through controlled wells and tanks. Education will be conducted on a co-operative vital wants, and yet depo village will be to grow its own playgrounds for adults and basis.

There will be no castes, such as we have today with their graded untouchability. Non-violence with its technique of Satyagraha and Non-co-operation will have the sanction of the village community. There will be a compulsory service of village guards who will be selected by rotation from the register maintained by the village. The government of the village will be conducted by the Panchayat of five persons annually elected by the adult villagers, male and female, possessing minimum prescribed qualifications. 

Questions : 
1. Why is village Swaraj a complete republic? 
2. What is the first concern of every village? 
3. What should every village have? 
4. What is the use of water works? 
5. Why should a village maintain theatre, school and public hall? 
6. What methods are sanctioned for protest? 
7. Which is the govt. of the village? 
8. How is it elected? 
9. Which service is compulsory? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) a country with elected govt. 
(b) the group of people who rule the country. 
Answer:
1. Village Swaraj is a complete republic because it is independent of its neighbour for its vital wants. 
2. To grow its own food crop and cotton for clothes is the first concern. 
3. Every village should have a reserve for its cattle, recreation and playgrounds for adults and children. 
4. Water works ensure clean supply. 
5. Theatre is needed for entertainment, school for education and public hall for functions. 
6. Satyagrah and non-co-operation are sanctioned for protest. 
7. Panchayat of five persons is the village-govt. 
8. It is elected annually by the adult villagers. 
9. Service of village guards is compulsory. 
10. (a) republic 
(b) government. 

Passage 27.

Inanimate objects are classified scientifically into three major categories—those that break down, those that get lost, and those that don't work. The goal of all inanimate objects is to resist man and ultimately to defeat him, and the three major classifications are based on the method each object uses to achieve its purpose. As a general rule, any object capable of breaking down at the moment when it is most needed will do so. 

The automobile is typical of the category. With the cunning peculiar to its breed, the automobile never breaks down while entering a filling station which has a large staff of idle mechanics. It waits until it reaches a downtown intersection in the middle of the rush hour, or until it is fully loaded with family and luggage on the Ohio Turnpike.

Thus it creates maximum inconvenience, frustration, and irritability, thereby reducing its owner's life span. Washing machines; garbage disposals, lawn mowers, furnaces, TV sets, taperecorders, slide projectors - all are in league with the automobile to take their turn at breaking down 

Questions : 
1. Which objects are inanimate objects? 
2. In how many categories are they divided? 
3. What is the goal of these objects? 
4. Of which category is the automobile? 
5. Which has a large staff of idle mechanics?
6. What does it create? 
7. What are in league with the automobile? 
8. What does never break down? 
9. “It waits until..........? To what does “it' here refer to? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) not alive in the way that people, animals etc are. 
(b) a person who repairs and works with machines.
Answer:
1. Objects which break down, get lost and don't work are inanimate objects. 
2. They are divided in three categories. 
3. To resist man and defeat him is the goal. 
4. The automobile is of the break down category. 
5. The filling station has a large staff of idle mechanics. 
6. It creates maximum inconvenience, frustration and irritability. 
7. Washing machines, garbage disposals, lawn mowers, furnaces, T.V. sets, taperecorders, slide projectors etc. are in league with automobile. 
8. The automobile never breaks down. 
9. Here ‘it' refers to automobile. 
10. (a) inanimate 
(b) mechanic  

Passage 28.

Many inanimate objects, of course, find it extremely difficult to break down. Pliers, for example, and gloves and keys are almost totally incapable of breaking down. Therefore, they have had to evolve a different technique for resisting man.

They get lost. Science has still not solved the mystery of how they do it, and no man has ever caught one of them in the act. The most plausible theory is that they have developed a secret method of locomotion which they are able to conceal from human eyes.

It is not uncommon for a pair of pliers to climb all the way from the cellar to the attic in its single-minded determination to raise its owner's blood pressure. Keys have been known to burrow three feet under mattresses. Women's purses, despite their great weight, frequently travel through six or seven rooms to find hiding space under a couch.

Scientists have been struck by the fact that things that break down virtually never get lost, while things that get lost hardly ever break down. A furnace, for example, will invariably break down at the depth of the first winter cold wave, but it will never get lost. A woman's purse hardly ever breaks down; it almost invariably chooses to get lost. 

Questions : 
1. Of what type are many inanimate objects? 
2. Which are the objects incapable of breaking? 
3. What tcchniquc do they evolve to resist man? 
4. Who hasn't solved the mystery yet and of what? 
5. What is the most plausible theory? 
6. Where may a pair of pliers climb? 
7. Where are keys generally placed? 
8. Which place is meant for women's purses?
9. By what fact have the scientists been struck? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) movement or ability to move 
(b) persons who study science. 
Answer:
1. Many inanimate objects are extremely difficult to break down. 
2. Pliers, gloves and keys are incapable of breaking. 
3. They evolve different techniques to resist man. 
4. Science hasn't solved the mystery of how they do it. 
5. The most plausible theory is of locomotion--conceal from human eyes. 
6. The pair of pliers climb from the cellar to the attic. 
7. Keys are generally placed under the mattresses. 
8. Women's purses are placed under the couch. 
9. The scientists have been struck by the fact that things that break down virtually never get lost, while things that get lost hardly ever break down. 
10. (a) locomotion 
(b) scientists 

Passage 29.

The third class of objects--those that don't work is the most curious of all. These include such objects as barometers, car clocks, cigarette lighters, flashlights and toy-train locomotives. It is inaccurate, of course, to say that they never work.

They work once, usually for the first few hours after being brought home, and then quit. Thereafter, they never work again. In fact, it is widely assumed that they are built for the purpose of not working. Some people have reached advanced ages without ever seeing some of these objects-barometers, for example-in working order.

Science is utterly baffled by the entire category. There are many theories about it. The most interesting holds that the things that don't work have attained the highest state possible for an inanimate object, the state to which things that break down and things that get lost can still only aspire.

They have truly defeated man by conditioning him never to expect anything of them. When his cigarette lighter won't light or his flashlight fails to illuminate, it does not raise his blood pressure. Objects that don't work have given man the only peace he receives from inanimate society. 

Questions : 
1. What is the third class of objects? 
2. What are the names of these objects? 
3. Upto what time do they work? 
4. For what purpose are they built? 
5. What has been said about some people of advanced ages? 
6. By which is Science utterly baffled? 
7. Who has conditioned and to whom? 
8. What doesn't raise a man's blood pressure? 
9. From which does a man receive only peace? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) instruments for measuring air pressure
(b) General principles of a particular subject. 
Answer:
1. The third class is of the objects that don't work. 
2. Barometers, car clocks, cigarette lighters, flash-lights and toy train locomotives are these objects. 
3. They work upto the first few hours. 
4. They are built for the purpose of not working. 
5. They have reached advanced ages without ever seeing some of these objects. 
6. Science is utterly baffled by the entire category. 
7. Objects that don't work have conditioned man. 
8. When cigarette lighter and flash-light fail to work, it doesn't raise blood pressure. 
9. Man receives peace from inanimate society. 
10. (a) barometers 
(b) theory 

Passage 30.

We say that the aim of life is self-preservation, if not for the individual, at least for the species. Granted that every organism seeks this end, does every organism know what is best for its self-preservation? Consider cancer cells and non-cancer cells in the human body.

The normal cells are aimed at reproducing and functioning in a way that is beneficial to the body. Cancer cells on the other hand, spread in a way that threatens and ultimately destroys the whole body. Normal cells work harmoniously, because they “know”, in a sense, that their preservation depends upon the health of the body they inhabit.

While they are organisms in themselves, they also act as part of substructure, directed at the good of the whole body. We might say, metaphorically, that cancer cells do not know enough about self-preservation, they are, biologically, more ignorant than normal cells. The aim of cancer cells is to spread throughout the body, to conquer all the normal cells--and when they reach their aim, the body is dead. And so are the cancer cells. 

Questions : 
1. What is the aim of life? 
2. About what does this passage discuss? 
3. What are the normal cells aimed at? 
4. How do cancer cells spread? 
5. On what do the preservation of normal cells depend? 
6. How do normal cells act? 
7. What might we say about cancer cells? 
8. ........... they are, biologically.....' To what do the word “they' here refer to? 
9. What is the aim of the cancer cells? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) a disease in which cells grow and form lump.
(b) smallest living part of a man/animal/plant etc.
Answer:
1. The aim of life is self-preservation. 
2. This passage discusses cancer cells and non-cancer cells. 
3. Normal cells are aimed at reproducing and functioning in a way that is beneficial to the body. 
4. Cancer cells spread in a way that threatens and ultimately destroys the whole body. 
5. It depends on the health of the body they inhabit. 
6. Normal cells act as part of substructure. 
7. About cancer cells we might say that they are biologically more ignorant. 
8. Here 'they' refers to 'cancer cells'. 
9. Their aim is to spread through the body. 
10. (a) cancer 
(b) cell 

 
Passage 31.

War is the social cancer of mankind. It is a pernicious form of ignorance, for it destroys not only its “enemies”, but also the whole superstructure of which it is a part and thus eventually it defeats itself. Nations live in a state of anarchy, not in a state of law.

And, like cancer cells, nations do not know that their ultimate self-interest lies in preserving the health and harmony of the whole body (that is, the community of man), for if that body is mortally wounded, then no nation can survive and flourish. If the aim of life is self preservation for the species as well as for the individual--we must tame or eradicate the cancer cells of war in the social organism.

And this can be done only when nations begin to recognize that what may seem to be “in the national interest” cannot be opposed to the common interest of mankind or both the nation and mankind will die in this conquest”.

The life of every organism depends upon the viability of the system of which it is a member. The cancer cells cannot exist without the body to inhabit, and they must be exterminated if they cannot be re-educated to behave like normal cell. At present, their very success dooms them to failure just as a victorious war in the atomic age would be an unqualified disaster for the dying winter.

Questions : 
1. What is war here? 
2. How is war a pernicious ignorance? 
3. How do nations live during war? 
4. By what are the nations unknown? 
5. What happens if the body of the nation is mortally wounded? 
6. What should we eradicate for self-preservation? 
7. What should the nations realise?
 8. Upon what does the life of every organism depend? 
 9. Which age is it? 
 10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) event that causes a lot of harm or damage 
(b) a lack of information or knowledge. 
Answer:
1. War is the social cancer of mankind. 
2. It is a pernicious ignorance because it destroys not only its “enemies' but also the .. whole superstructure. 
3. During war nations live in a state of anarchy. 
4. Nations are unknown by the fact that their ultimate self-interest lies in preserving the health and harmony of the whole body. 
5. If the body of the nation is mortally wounded, then no nation can survive and flourish. 
6. For self-preservation we must tame or eradicate the cancer cells of war in the social organism. 
7. Nations should realise that national interest can't be opposed to the common interest of mankind. 
8. Life of every organism depends upon the viability of the system of which it is a member
9. This is an atomic age. 
10.(a) disaster
(b) ignorance. 

Passage 32.

 Forests are called the 'green gold' of a country because they are a country's wealth. There are numerous advantages of having green forests. They give us rain, prevent floods and give us a number of valuable products. We get timber for building our houses, wood for furniture, fuel for cooking food. Besides these, we get many other useful products from them.

They are honey, wax, gum, oil, herbs, lac and dyes. Think of the paper mills. Can they produce paper without getting wood from the forests ? The industry of the artificial silk depends on forests. Forests add to the beauty of a country and provide shelter to wild animals.

During wars, they give cover to armies. Forests maintain fertility of soil. They are helpful in reducing level of pollution. They are necessary to maintain balance in nature. They are vital for good climate. They reduce intensity and frequency of natural disasters like a drought, flood, storms etc. 

Questions : 
1. Why are forests called the 'green gold' ? 
2. Name any five products that we get from the forest. 
3. What important work do trees during wars ? 
4. How are forests useful for wild animals ? 
5. Who does the term “green gold' symbolise in the passage ?
6. What do forests prevent ? 
7. Can we produce paper without getting wood from the forests ? 
8. Are forests necessary for artificial silk ?
9. What do forests maintain ? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean : 
(a) provide 
(b) many.
Answer:
1. Forests are called the 'green gold' because they are a country's wealth. 
2. The five products that we get from the forests are-timber for building our houses, wood for furniture, fuel for cooking food, honey and gum. 
3. They provide cover to armies during wars. 
4. Forests provide shelter to wild animals. 
5. In the passage 'green gold' symbolises the forests.
6. Forests prevent floods. 
7. No, we cannot produce paper without getting wood from the forests. 
8. Yes, the industry of artificial silk depends on forests, 
9. Forests maintain fertility of soil. They maintain balance in nature. 
10. (a) give 
(b) numerous. 

Passage 33.

Worry about words, Bobby. Your grandmother is right. For, whatever else you may do, you will be using words always. All day, and every day, words matter.Though you live in a barrel and speak to nobody but yourself, words matter. For words are the tools of thought, and you will find often that you are thinking badly because you are using the wrong tools, trying to bore a hole with a screw-driver, or draw a cork with a coal hammer..... 

The power and pleasure of words are enduring, and can be enjoyed by all men. They are not the privilege of wealth or intellect or costly education, and they do not suddenly perish, like last year's motor-car or fox-trot. They are not the monopoly of writers, lovers of literature, or lawyers. Every trade and every profession is conducted with words.

The English Language, like the right of criticism belongs to every subject. And so we might expect that the same authorities which urge you to get ‘air-mindedness' and road-sense and hygiene-awareness' and 'civic-spirit would beg you sometimes to think about your words, to respect and treasure the language of the race, which you are using, changing, enriching, or damaging every hour of every day. 

Questions : 
1. Whose grandmother is right? . 
2. What does matter all day and every day? 
3. For what are the words? 
4. What will happen if we use wrong tools? 
5. What can be enjoyed by all men? 
6. Of what aren't the words privilege? 
7. Of whose monopoly aren't the words? 
8. What does belong to every subject? 
9. What will be urged to you by the authorities? 
10. Find words from the passage which mean 
(a) a group of letters that expresses a meaning 
(b) the system of communication in speech and writing. 
Answer:
1. Bobby's grandmother is right. 
2. Words matter all day and everyday. 
3. Words are for thought. 
4. If we use wrong tools, our thinking will be bad. 
5. The power and pleasure of words can be enjoyed by all men. 
6. The words aren't the privilege of wealth or intellect or costly education. 
7. Words aren't the monopoly of writers, lovers of literature or lawyers. 
8. The right of criticism belongs to every subject. 

9. You will be urged for air-mindedness and road sense and hygiene awareness and civic-spirit.
10. (a) word 
(b) language