Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension
In this section, a passage is given and you are asked to – Do not read aloud or word-by-word in your mind, this
answer questions based on information that is specifically is because there is really no need to read everything,
given in the passage. So, do not rely on your own you can skip a point here and there if you feel that it
judgement based on matter you are familiar with. is not important enough.
Why do we need to pay specific attention to RC, Reading – Try to have a map of what you read so that you can
Comprehension? It is because we are being tested on get the whole picture.
what we have understood after reading the passage under – Try to take in more than one word than at a glance.
a time constraint. The reading style for RC varies from the – If you can’t figure out the meaning of a word, try to
reading style we generally use. We do not read a passage guess its contextual meaning by reading the whole
as we read our text books while studying. In a text book sentence.
we cannot afford to skip a point here or a line there, lest – Read the editorials in the middle page of your
we miss out on that crucial one mark. Nor do we read a newspaper, they are more or less of the same type
passage as we read an Agatha Christie novel, from page as passages and help enhance your general
to page, word by word, curled up in bed on a nice knowledge as well.
wintry day. – Mark the right answer! Do not answer half-heartedly,
In RC, we need to finish off our task within the allotted verify!
time. So, it is seldom advised to take more than 4 or 5
minutes for a passage– this includes the time to answer Approaches to Reading Comprehension
the questions. We get marks for answering questions There are several methods of attempting a Reading
and not for reading the passage. But we must bear in Comprehension passage. They are as given below:
mind that if we read the passage smoothly and speedily, – Read the passage and answer the questions. This
we can answer almost all the questions confidently. is a good method and can help you get all the
answers right, or at least help you guess intelligently.
Is it possible for us to answer the questions without
reading the passage? Yes. We should just search for – Take a glance at the questions first, and then read
the answers if we have just a minute or so to read the the passage and answer the questions. This is a
passage. But we must understand the importance of smart way to work since you can answer questions
reading fast and understanding important points without as you read the passage and not waste time reading
dilly-dallying. unnecessary material.
– Just read the questions and search for the answers.
There are a few techniques that we can apply to read
If you do not have any time to read the passage, just
faster and comprehend better:
go and mark answers to whatever questions you can
– Do not regress while reading. Read right the first trace in the passage.
time round, instead of re-reading and re-re-reading
– Read two paragraphs, look up if there are any
and re-re-… Always move forward while reading, do
questions based on it and answer them. Then read
not look back at all.
two more paragraphs and answer any questions
– Completely concentrate on what you are reading. based on them and so on…This is a good method
– Read fast, as if you have an express train running too as whatever you have read remains fresh in your
after you. mind and you can immediately answer questions
related to it.
– Place the passage details roughly in your mind so
that you can search for the answer quickly instead There are various methods that help you to improve
of going on a treasure hunt. your reading speed. Some of these are:
6.2 Reading Comprehension
Underlining Hand Method The Brush Technique
In this method, we move our finger or pencil in the forward This is quite an advanced technique. Here you have to
direction under the line that we are reading. This helps brush your hands diagonally from the north-west corner
us to concentrate and keep reading forward. of the page right to the bottom. It requires a lot of
concentration and an attention to detail.
Vertical Page Motion
In this method, you get focus and concentration by placing The Mapping Technique
your hands on either side of the passage and moving it Read paragraph by paragraph and make a mental map
down as you read along. This method helps you to read of what you have read in each paragraph so that you can
more as compared to the previous method as using this search in the exact paragraph, should you wish to search
you can take a look at the entire line and the portion for an answer. Also, you must keep in mind how each
below it too. paragraph links to the previous one and the one after.
Finally, read with enthusiasm, instead of boredom. Positive
thinking always leads to outstanding results!
Reading Comprehension 6.3
Exercise
Passage-1 life of freedom he wrote about and lived to a great
San Francisco, America’s romantic city by the bay, extent. Still, the stories he created live on within the
has always been for the artists, writers and lovers souls of American youth, the lingering American
who have left at least part of their hearts there. One of romantics.
the great American romantics, who wrote in San 1. Jack Kerouac was born
Francisco, was Jack Kerouac. Kerouac rewrote the (a) to a working class family in Massachusetts.
history of an entire post-war era in On the Road.
(b) to a Canadian family.
Born on March 12, 1922, in Lowell, Massachusetts,
(c) to Irish Catholic parents.
to a working class Catholic, French-Canadian family,
Kerouac had a typically all American childhood. He (d) in a sandlot.
played baseball, read Pulp Fiction and became a high 2. Jack Kerouac relocated to San Francisco in
school football star. He entered Columbia University (a) 1922
on a football scholarship but when a leg injury put him
(b) 1951
out of action on the grid iron, he chose the literary
field of work. American literature would never be the (c) 1947
same anymore. His romanticized autobiographical (d) the midst of the Vietnam War
novels and wayward travels, which were often the basis 3. Kerouac met Neal Cassady
of his work, made him the unquestioned king of the (a) in the French Canadian Massachusetts.
Beat Generation writers.
(b) in San Francisco.
Before becoming the father of the San Francisco-based
(c) in New York.
Beat Generation, Kerouac was writing in the bars and
basement apartments of New York City’s Lower East (d) in Vietnam.
and Lower West sides. Here he met and worked with 4. On the Road was
William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg before they (a) not important to the youth of America.
all took their restless spirits West and started a literary
(b) one long paragraph.
and cultural revolution.
(c) Alan Ginsberg’s poem.
Kerouac first landed in the San Francisco Bay area in
1947, hoping to get a berth on a merchant marine (d) Kerouac’s autobiography.
ship. Here he soon met his kindred spirit, Neal 5. Which of the following is NOT mentioned about
Cassady, whose frenetic letters and cross-country Kerouac’s life?
travels spurred Jack to write On the Road, perhaps (a) His support for the US war effort in Vietnam
his pre-eminent work, in one long paragraph during (b) His French-Canadian upbringing
the month of April 1951.
(c) His leading role in the beat generation
Since the book was written as a simple personal
(d) His unsuccessful marriage
testament “in search of his writing soul”, Kerouac had
no idea that On the Road would spur a generation 6. The best title for this passage would be
onto the highways and into the tumultuous activism (a) Post-war Literature and a New Beginning
of the Vietnam era, a decade later. (b) Kerouac: King of the Beats Opens a New Road
Almost overnight, Kerouac became a media superstar (c) San Franciso Writers
and even a mythical figure himself. But in the end, he
(d) Vietnam Protests: The Early Years
could not live with the myth he created. He split from
the ranks of his fellow beat writers, like Ginsberg, and Passage-2
actually voiced support for America’s war effort in Rock, or rock-and-roll is a form of music that was
Vietnam. Later in his life, he moved in back with his invented in the United States in the 1950s. It has
mother, drank too much, and became more and more become popular in the US, Europe, and many other
reactionary. His later years were an ironic turn on the parts of the world. African-American performers like
Little Richards, Fats Domino, Ray Charles, and Big (b) Musical influences from Europe and Asia
Joe Turner were among the first people to come up (c) Forms of music heard on most radio stations
with true rock-and-roll, a combination of various in the early 1950s
elements from country, western, gospel, rhythm and
(d) Country, western, gospel, rhythm and blues
blues and jazz. The influences of blues man Muddy and jazz
Waters, gospel performer Ruth Brown, jazz musician
Louis Jordan, on rock-and-roll, are still felt today. For 4. In the 1950s rock-and-roll
example, the songs of early country legend Hank (a) was invented.
Williams affected musicians ranging from early rock (b) was not considered appropriate for White
star Buddy Holly to 1980s rocker Bruce Springsteen. audiences.
In the segregated 1950s, African-American musical (c) sold few records.
forms were not considered appropriate for White (d) was the property of Buddy Holly.
audiences. Much of the US population had not been
5. Many performers copied songs from
exposed to them. All that changed, when in 1953,
Cleveland based disc jockey Alan Freed began to play (a) classical music (b) Pat Boone
rhythm and blues to a largely non African-American (c) original artists (d) ‘Tutti Frutti’
audience. Freed was successful and a lot of records 6. Which of the following is not mentioned in the
were sold. The music spread, and the term that Freed passage as being a factor in the commercial
had adopted for the music — rock-and-roll, began to success of early rock-and-roll?
spread as well.
(a) The purchasing power of early rock
Teenagers and the money they were willing to spend enthusiasts.
on records provided an impetus for rock-and-roll. On
(b) The charismatic personality of disc jockey Alan
their way to becoming rock stars, many performers
Freed.
copied songs from the original artists. For instance,
Pat Boone scored a hit with a toned-down version of (c) The exposure of a non African-American
Little Richards’ song, ‘Tutti Frutti’, prompting Little audience to African-American musical forms.
Richard to comment, “He goes and outsells me with (d) Rock’s popularity with teenage audiences
my song that I wrote.” In 1955-56, Chuck Berry, Bill Passage-3
Haley and the Comets, and particularly Elvis Presley
Primitive mammals called monotremes are the only
became famous for their version of traditional rhythm
living representatives of the subclass Prototheria. This
and blues. Elvis Presley’s first television appearance
makes them the most likely living representatives of
in January 1956 marked rock-and roll’s ascendancy
the creatures that were part of the evolutionary transition
into the world of pop music.
from reptiles to mammals. They share some qualities
1. What is the main topic of this passage? with reptiles and birds, but are nevertheless true
(a) American Popular Music mammals. Like birds and reptiles, monotremes lay
(b) The Careers of Successful Rock Musicians eggs rather than give birth. But like other mammals,
(c) The Musical Elements that Distinguish Pop they have hair, large brains and mammary glands that
from Classical Music produce milk to nourish their offspring.
(d) The Origins of the Music that Came to be Their primitive organization and close relation to
Called Rock-and-Roll reptiles is manifested in their uncomplicated brain
structure, egg-laying habits and cloaca. (A cloaca is
2. Who is NOT mentioned as an African-American
found in amphibians, reptiles, birds, certain fish and
performer who was amongst the first to come out
monotremes, but not in placental mammals or most
with rock-and-roll?
bony fishes. The animal’s intestinal, urinary and
(a) Fats Domino (b) Little Richards genital tracts open into this common cavity, which
(c) Elvis Presley (d) Ray Charles also functions as an outlet.)
3. According to the passage, true rock-and-roll is Another feature that indicates they may be related to
characterized by a combination of which of the reptiles is their egg-laying behaviour. Monotremes lay
following? shelled eggs, which are predominantly yolk, like those
(a) The music of Bruce Springsteen and Hank of reptiles and birds. The young are born in a relatively
Williams early stage of development and remain dependent
upon the parents. The females have no teats; the milk 6. According to the passage, where do young
that they secrete from their mammary glands passes echidnas live right after they are hatched?
directly through their skin. (a) In a pouch on their mother’s abdomen
There are only three types of monotremes in existence: (b) In their mother’s cloaca
the duck-billed platypus and two species of spiny
(c) In amphibians, birds, reptiles, and certain fish
echidna or anteater. The platypus has webbed feet, a
flat tail, and a ‘bill’ like a duck’s. The short and the (d) In an egg that has a shell and that is
long-nosed echidnas have spines and tube-like noses. predominantly yolk
The female echidna lays one egg at a time into a Passage-4
pouch that she develops in her abdomen. Her young Asteroids are rocky, metallic objects that orbit around
will hatch in it and develop for several months. the sun, but are too small to be considered planets.
1. The passage focuses on which of the following The largest known asteroid, Ceres, has a diameter of
aspects of monotremes? about 1,000 kilometres. The smallest asteroids are
(a) The food they eat and their behaviour in the the size of pebbles. Millions are the size of boulders.
Most are irregularly shaped — only a few are large
wild.
enough for gravity to have made them into spheres.
(b) The times of day when they are most active. About 250 asteroids in the solar system are 100
(c) Their relationship to both reptiles and kilometres in diameter, and at least 16 have a diameter
mammals. of 240 kilometres or greater. Their orbits lie in a range
(d) Their mating behaviour and reproductive that stretches from earth’s orbit to beyond Saturn’s
organs. orbit. Tens of thousands of asteroids exist in a belt
between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. An asteroid
2. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a
that hits earth’s atmosphere is called a meteor or
quality that monotremes share with other
shooting star, because it burns and gives off a bright
mammals? flash of light. Whatever does not completely burn falls
(a) Hair on the body to earth as a meteorite. Between 1,000 and 10,000
(b) Development of mammary glands tonnes of this material fall to earth daily. Much is in
the form of small grains of dust, but about 1,000
(c) Egg-laying
metallic or rocky bits fall to earth each year.
(d) A large brain
There has been much speculation about large meteors
3. The passage states that monotremes are hitting the earth. A large asteroid or comet is thought
(a) extinct to have landed in Mexico about 65 million years ago.
(b) reptiles and birds The impact may have led to the extinction of many
species, including the dinosaurs, by throwing dust
(c) egg-laying mammals that are related to reptiles
into the atmosphere, blocking the sunlight, and causing
and birds
a climate change. The period of time between such a
(d) highly intelligent large meteor impacts is probably in the millions of
4. Monotreme babies are born years, but smaller meteors such as the one that
(a) in the early stages of development and must caused the Metro’s Crater in Arizona (about 1.2
rely on their mothers. kilometres in diameter), may hit the earth every 50,000
to 100,000 years. There’s no historical record of a
(b) f ully dev eloped and quickly become person being killed by a meteorite. The only reported
independent. injury occurred on November 30, 1954, when an
(c) live like the babies of other mammals. Alabama woman was bruised by an eight-pound
(d) without mammary glands. meteorite that fell through the roof of her house.
5. The duck-billed platypus is 1. The milions of asteroids are
(a) the tube-like nose of a monotreme. (a) the size of boulders
(b) a subspecies of anteater. (b) symmetrical
(c) a portion of the monotreme reproductive system. (c) about 1,000 kilometres in diameter
(d) one of the few surviving species of monotreme. (d) regular in shape
2. Which of the following explains why a meteor is (b) was caused by a series of coincidences.
called a shooting star? (c) was a surprisingly accurate foreshadowing of
(a) It may have caused the extinction of dinosaurs. actual events.
(b) No one is known to have been killed by one. (d) took place at the Three Mile Island.
(c) It burns in a flash of light. 2. Officials of the nuclear power industry
(d) It can be rocky or metallic. (a) have committed murders to make possible a
3. In the passage, why does the author mention the cover-up of the incident at Harrisburg.
Metro’s Crater in Arizona? (b) had predicted that nuclear accidents were likely
to occur.
(a) To give an example of the impact of a smaller
meteor. (c) have been reluctant to reveal the full story about
the Three Mile Island incident.
(b) To increase interest in astronomy.
(d) have tried to make all the facts freely
(c) To close the passage on an interesting note. accessible to those concerned.
(d) To show how meteors can wipe out animal 3. According to the passage, public concern over the
species. accident near Harrisburg
4. The Alabama woman in the passage is mentioned (a) had no effect on the subsequent investigation.
to
(b) was lessened by the quick response of
(a) show that meteorites can kill. industry leaders and officials.
(b) illustrate the only documented injury of a (c) prompted widespread panic throughout
human being by a meteorite. Pennsylvania.
(c) show that meteorites can damage homes. (d) persisted as many questions were left
(d) summarize the historical records. unanswered.
Passage-5 4. Reporters looking into the accident at Three Mile
Island
A highly-acclaimed motion picture of 1979 concerned
a nearly disastrous accident at a nuclear power plant. (a) uncovered more facts than did citizen groups.
Within a few weeks of the film’s release, in a chilling (b) did not succeed in uncovering all the facts about
coincidence, a real-life accident startlingly similar to the cause of the accident.
the fictitious one occurred at the Three Mile Island (c) cooperated closely with power industry officials.
plant near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The two incidents
(d) kept documented information from the public.
even corresponded in certain details, for instance, both
in the film and in real life, one cause of the mishap 5. All of the following are true, except
was a false metre reading caused by a jammed (a) the movie about a nuclear accident had been
needle. praised.
Such similarities led many to wonder whether the (b) the press had sought information about the
fictional movie plot had been prophetic in other ways. Three Mile Island mishap.
The movie depicted officials of the power industry as (c) a mechanical breakdown was a partial cause
seriously corrupt, willing to lie, bribe, and even kill to of the Harrisburg accident.
conceal their culpability in the accident. Did a similar
(d) the release of the movie came only weeks after
cover-up occur in the Three Mile Island accident?
the Three Mile Island accident.
Perhaps we will never know. We do know that, despite
the endeavours of reporters and citizen groups to Passage-6
uncover the cause of the accident, many of the facts Aristotle Onassis was religious. As a child, he sang
remain unknown. Although they declare that the public in the church choir, learned his catechism, and was
is entitled to the truth, many of the power industry drilled in theology at his local church for two hours a
leaders responsible have been reluctant to cooperate week. As a man, he never broke away from the church.
with independent, impartial investigators. He was far from outstanding in school, yet he tried to
1. The nuclear accident described in the movie shine at everything he undertook, whether it was
swimming, or water polo, or sailing, or making a
(a) was successf ully concealed by power fortune. Disaster came to him and his family in 1922,
industry leaders and officials. when the Turks ran the Greeks out of Turkey, chased
them into the sea, and slaughtered them. Thousands father, he needed a great deal of money. His father
of Greek refugees poured into Smyrna ahead of the had run a one-man banking business, and at his
Turkish army, with dreadful tales of savagery and horror offices, on Grand Vizier Han Street, there were
that echoed the bloody history of the Turkish valuables belonging to Turkish friends in an old-
massacres of centuries before. The Turks were taking fashioned black safe. Going with a Turkish friend of
a horrible revenge for the Greek atrocities of 1919 on his father’s to retrieve a parcel of papers and valuables
the Turkish population. The old and the beautiful city
left with his father for safe-keeping, Aristotle opened
was burned on September 13,1922. The horror was
the safe, secured the parcel for his friend and emptied
unbelievable, with a pall of black smoke rising from
the ruins, the dreadful smell of burning flesh, and the safe of his father’s fortune in Turkish pounds. Next,
hundreds of men, women and children crowding into he organized a march of 50 leading Turkish
every available craft, even small rowing boats, in order businessmen waving a banner, shouting against the
to escape. Not least in horror was the cruelty with arrest of Socrates Onassis, and demanding his
which the escaping Greeks broke the legs of the mules release. This almost certainly saved his father’s life.
in order to keep them from being useful to the Turks. 1. What was the prime objective of Aristole Onassis
When the Greeks had been in power, they had burned after the Turkish attack?
the most prosperous towns in the west of Turkey. Now
the innocent Greek population of Smyrna were paying (a) Trying to shine in making a fortune
with their blood. (b) Trying to get his father out on bail
Aristotle Onassis’s father was thrown into a Turkish (c) Trying to rescue as many relatives as he could
prison, and his new wife and three daughters were (d) Trying to get his family together
sent to an evacuation centre, to await transportation
2. What led the Greeks to resort to cruelty to the
from Smyrna to Greece. Only the 16-year-old Aristotle
and his grandmother were left at home, but not for mules?
long. Soon the Turkish general requisitioned the house (a) They wanted to ensure that mules could not
and the old lady had to get out. The boy had to grow be used by anyone else.
up overnight — somehow to rescue what was left of (b) They wanted to ensure that they retaliate to
the family; somehow to save what was left of the the atrocities of the Turks.
family; somehow to survive against dreadful odds;
(c) They wanted to prove that they could hit back.
somehow to get them all out of Turkish Smyrna; and
somehow to start again. Almost incredibly, he (d) They could no longer contain their vengeance.
succeeded in all these aims. He made up to the Turks, 3. What is the meaning of the word catechism?
and to the Americans, supplying the Turks with (a) Religious revelatory prophecies
information, the Americans with liquor, for he hid bottles
(b) A questionnaire based on facts of life
of raki, ouzo and even French brandy, and supplied
them to the Americans. His commission would be a (c) A new world order
single bottle, and he would give that to his friend, the (d) A religious sermon
Turkish general. From the Americans, he obtained an 4. Why was Socrates imprisoned?
identification pass to take him in and out of the United
(a) Because he had led a rebellion.
States marine zone; and from the Turks, a Turkish
army pass to enter and leave the still smoldering city. (b) Because he was considered a political
Now he could operate, but first he must find his family. offender.
His grandmother had disappeared, and his father was (c) Because he had headed a maverick firm.
in a Turkish prison for summary trial as a political
(d) Because he was on good terms with the
offender — his death by hanging dead. His brothers
Americans.
were also arrested, and one of them Alexander had
been burned alive in a church. 5. What was the probable reason of the Turk rally?
Miraculously, Aristotle managed to rescue his relatives. (a) It was a step to siege the neighbouring territory.
Through the American Vice Consul’s intercession, he (b) It was a step taken out of revenge.
obtained the release of his half-sister and his (c) It was done to torture the Greeks for nothing.
stepmother from their camp, and they were put on an
(d) It was done to pillage the neighbours.
American ship and dispatched to Lesbos. For his
6. What could be the only solution for Socrates’s Instead, I think of my husband at work wondering if he
release? has left yet, and my daughter at the other end wondering
the same thing.
(a) To pay the people who had captured him.
As I head towards the plane, I find myself remembering
(b) To escape from the jail and run away from the
yet another arrival and departure. When I was newly
country.
wed, my 91-year-old grandfather died. We had been
(c) To overthrow the power of the Turks. very close, and one evening, returning from his funeral,
(d) To befriend the Turkish officers and then ask I arrived at the airport crying. My husband of only a
for a favour. year was waiting at the gate to take me in his arms.
Because of my tears, everyone was looking at us,
Passage-7
but I didn’t care. Somehow the emotion I felt seemed
I am sitting at an airport watching people in the final not at all out of place for the airport.
moments before their loved ones arrive or depart. They
Life needs to be this important all the time. I wish all
are pacing nervously, looking at one another, touching
the people who went on a journey could come back
and not touching. The emotion is intense.
to find someone waiting for them. I also wish they
A woman, speaking Spanish, is running in circles trying could leave with someone to see them off. I think of
to gather family members together for a goodbye. Her my grandfather and realize that if dying is like this, a
voice is high-pitched. When the final moment comes passage, then I am not afraid.
before boarding, she wraps her arms around her son,
1. What is the author doing while sitting at the airport?
giving him a powerful embrace that should protect him
until he returns. (a) She is missing her husband and her daughter.
A grandmother and grandson stand at the rail where I (b) She is wondering how one would capture child’s
am waiting; the people who were supposed to pick the emotional gush in a story or on film.
them up are late. Two ladies, next to them but (c) She is thinking about her grandfather who died
unrelated, look up and down the corridor as if scanning at 91.
an open sea. They probably want to help the (d) She is reading an interesting book.
grandmother. A mother holds a baby as she kisses
2. The two ladies at the rail next to the grandmother
her husband. Tears dampen her cheeks. The moment
and her grandson seem to be
is charged.
(a) searching for someone who is lost.
At Gate 13, the arrivals are just coming in. I see her.
There she is. Just as poignant, the arrivals fold into (b) impassively talking to each other.
the mix of people as if they have been gone. (c) looking around for the grandma’s folks.
I think of other departures and arrivals. I recall seeing (d) in their own thoughts as they are unrelated to
my daughter, I am now going to visit, coming down the grandmother.
that narrow, portable corridor with her haversack slung 3. What point does the author possibly drive at
on one shoulder, overstuffed carrion bag cradled in through the passage?
her arms, her headphones making her oblivious to
(a) The author has long memories of airports.
the stream of people flowing along with her. She was
in her first year at university coming home for holiday (b) The author shows how caring people are.
in November — the first time since August. I wrapped (c) The author is lamenting over the loss of her
myself around her as if she had been lost to me. grandfather.
Today, my flight is two hours late. The book I am (d) The author relates journeys with high emotions.
reading is not as interesting as the people leaving Passage-8
and coming. A little boy of five is meeting his
A final year school student called Mathew stumbled
grandfather for the first time. He looks up and up at
into the science class, late for the seventh time. His
the face of a man who is not that tall, except to a
teacher, Rebecca Sacra, wondered how such a bright
child, joy shines and I am wondering how one would
boy could be so irresponsible. She then issued a
capture this moment in words or on film.
reminder to her students. “Nine times late to class
When my flight is finally called, I gather my books and you receive a failing grade regardless of your test
and carry one bag. Since there is no one to see me scores.” In the back of the room, Mathew seemed
off, I do not look back to see where I have come from. nonplussed.
Sacra decided to meet Mathew’s father to explain the (c) The fear that he would be reprimanded.
situation to him. She braced herself, though (d) The over confidence that he could get away
remembering the tough spots he’d bailed Mathew out with anything.
of before — like the time Mathew was caught smoking
5. What was Mathew’s father most afraid of when
in school or when he broke bounds.
the teacher mentioned of his late-coming in class?
But the father’s reactions surprised Sacra. “I have been
(a) He thought his son would flunk.
getting that boy out of trouble for years,” he began.
“May be it’s time to demand more - not less - of (b) He was afraid that his son would spoil his
Mathew. Go ahead and flunk him if that is what it reputation.
takes to turn him around. What Mathew’s dad dreaded (c) He was afraid that this son would get into
even more was about the possibility that Mathew might smoking.
go off to college before he learned to take responsibility (d) He was afraid that his son would remain
for his own actions. irresponsible and eventually go off to college.
“You wouldn’t really flunk me, would you?” incredulous Passage-9
Mathew asked his teacher the next morning. She
When Mrs. Gandhi was voted to power, it seemed
assured him that she would. Mathew wasn’t late ever
that she would not be able to take on the formidable
again. The lesson Mathew’s father discovered — that
task of ruling a nation of 50 crore population with ease
parents who want their kids to excel must choose the
and comfort like her predecessors. But from the very
best parenting option, not the easiest — is something
beginning, Mrs. Gandhi proved herself to be a veritable
teachers wish all parents knew. Says Terry Lowe, an
member of the Parliament and a charismatic leader
award-winning teacher, “Too many parents are quick
for the Congress. Following the footsteps of her father,
to back off when kids object or complain. They bail
Mrs. Gandhi stoically challenged the conventional and
them out of tough spots and make excuses or give in
outdated theories of ruling the country. She spoke
when the going gets tough. Kids are a long-term
like a true politician. That apart, Mrs. Gandhi spoke
investment, and parents have to stop making short-
as a national leader not as a Congress leader. The
term decisions about them.”
distinction is not easy to define, but it is there and in
1. What is the central idea of the passage? her Independence Day address Mrs. Gandhi preserved
(a) The Turning Around of Mathew it. While, for example, she defended the record of her
(b) Lesson on Good Parenting government and met the opposition criticism, she did
(c) Lesson of Good Teaching so soberly without attacking the opposition and the
press as she tends to do. She even went to the extent
(d) Essence of Being Didactic of saying that if she drew attention to activities of
2. How does the author describe Mathew? hostile external forces, she did not do so with a view
(a) Mathew is essentially a burn. to distracting attention from difficulties at home which
(b) Mathew has always tried his tricks in the she knew remained formidable. Similarly, while she
class. emphasized the urgent need for preserving the
country’s unity and integrity, she did not blame
(c) Mathew is a fluke who sometimes got good opposition parties or other critics for the challenges
grades. facing the nation.
(d) He is an intelligent kid acting in a weird manner. While the situation in Punjab continued to cause
3. How did Mathew’s father react on the earlier anxiety in view of the confrontationist policies of the
counts? Akali Dal and the SGPC, Tamils of Indian descent
(a) He was very strict and punished the kid rightly. were are once again being massacred in Sri Lanka.
(b) He was short-sighted and he bailed him out. Mrs. Gandhi spoke on both these issues with great
care as befits a person in her position. But no careful
(c) He was unconcerned as Mathew got good
listener could miss the point that her statement on
grades. recent developments in Sri Lanka reflected a
(d) He tried to sit down and talk to Mathew. deterioration in India’s international position. The
4. What essentially worked in Mathew’s case? ruthless actions of the Sri Lanka armed force have
(a) The abilities of his father as a glib talker. been preceded by the induction of Israeli and British
specialists in intelligence and anti-terrorist activities
(b) The fact that he continued getting high grades.
and the rejection, in fact, if not in name of India’s political issue. I am always amazed when I hear people
mediatory services. Naturally, Mrs. Gandhi could not saying that sport creates goodwill between nations,
refer to this international consequence of the Akali and that if only the common people of the world could
and extremist activities in Punjab. But connection meet one another at football or cricket, they would have
between Colombo’s behaviour and the recent upheaval no inclination to meet on the battlefield. Even if one
in Punjab is too obvious to have been missed by her. didn’t know from concrete examples (the 1936 Olympic
Sri Lankan authorities no longer regard it necessary Games, for instance) that international sporting contests
to show any regard for this country’s susceptibilities lead to orgies of hatred, one could deduce it from
and interests and they feel free to butcher Tamils. general principles. Very often, the fiercest instinct of
1. Mrs. Gandhi individuals raises its ugly head and thus ruins the show.
(a) is more of a national leader than a Congress Nearly all the sports practised nowadays are
leader. competitive. You play to win, and the game has little
meaning unless you do your utmost to win. On the
(b) is only a national leader.
village green, where you pick up sides and no feeling
(c) is both a national and Congress leader. of local patriotism is involved, it is possible to play
(d) made no distinction between a national leader simply for the fun and exercise, but as soon as the
and a Congress leader. question of prestige arises, as soon as you feel that
2. Which of the following is true? you and some larger unit will be disgraced if you lose,
the most savage combative instincts are aroused.
(a) Mrs. Gandhi blamed the opposition for the
Anyone who has played even in a school football match
nation’s plight.
knows this. At the international level sport is frankly
(b) Mrs. Gandhi was ruthless about the way she mimic warfare. But the significant thing is not the
spoke about Sri Lanka. behaviour of the players but the attitude of the
(c) Mrs. Gandhi felt that India’s international spectators; and behind the spectators, of the nations
position has deteriorated. who work themselves into furies over these absurd
(d) Mrs. Gandhi ignored the formidable difficulties contests, and seriously believe — at any rate for short
at home. periods — that running, jumping and kicking a ball
are tests of national virtue.
3. Punjab situation
Even a leisurely game like cricket, demanding grace
(a) caused Mrs. Gandhi to blame the Akali Dal
rather than strength, can cause much ill-will, as we
and the SGPC.
saw in the controversy over body-line bowling and
(b) is the result of a defiant posture adopted by rough tactics of the Australian team that visited
Mrs. Gandhi’s government. England in 1921. Football, a game in which everyone
(c) was condemned by Mrs. Gandhi as the result gets hurt and every nation has its own style of play,
of hostile opposition shown by the Akali Dal which seems unfair to foreigners, is far worse. Worst
and the SGPC. of all is boxing. One of the most horrible sights in the
(d) was spoken of by Mrs. Gandhi while exercising world is a fight between white and coloured boxers
great care. before a mixed audience. But the boxing audience is
4. The author views Mrs. Gandhi as always disgusting and the behaviour of the women, in
(a) a connoisseur particular, is such that the army, I believe, does not
allow them to attend its contests. Two of three years
(b) a smart prime minister
ago, when Home Guards and regular troops were
(c) an unequivocal speaker holding boxing tournaments, I was placed on guard at
(d) a diplomatic politician the door of the hall, with orders to keep the women
Passage-10 out at any rate.
When I am told by people that sports is just for fun and In England, the obsession with sport is bad enough,
exercise, I really wonder whether they believe what they but even fiercer passions are aroused in young
are saying . These very people who ‘enjoy sports just countries where games-playing and nationalism are
for the sake of it’, have also displayed belligerent both recent developments. In countries like India or
emotions during a match played by their favourite Burma, it is necessary to have strong cordons of police
sportsmen. A sportsground has been turned into a to keep the crowd from invading the field in football
matches. In Burma, I have seen the supporters of one could be placed in a row within the space of a
side break through the police and disable the millimetre and yet the full millimetre would not have
goalkeeper of the opposing side at a critical moment. been covered. The atom, until Rutherford’s revelations
The first big football match that was played in Spain in 1911, was relatively unheard of. Many scientists
about 15 years ago led to an uncontrollable riot. As of the caliber of Moseley, Bohr, Compton, Urey and
soon as strong feelings of rivalry are aroused, the so on have also dwelt upon the complex problem
notion of playing the game according to the rules relating to the mysterious architecture of the atom.
always vanishes. It was, at the time, believed that voids, rather almost
1. The author believes that void spaces, actually consisted of particles revolving
with a lightning velocity. These particles, whose
(a) sport creates goodwill between the nations.
existence had been proved by a series of ingenious
(b) sportsmen will not be inclined to confront each laboratory experiments, were regarded to be so
other on the battle field. minute in size, that they were or as yet have not
(c) international sporting contests lead to riotous been seen or photographed. Thus evolved the concept
outbursts of hatred. of the atom, the ultimate and indivisible constituent
(d) the 1936 Olympic Games were the only of matter, as it has long since been regarded. It was
instance of sporting contests leading to hatred. believed that the atom was made up of two elements
2. Which of the following is correct? the proton or the positive element of an atomic
nucleus and the electrons or the negative elements
(a) Sports are played for fun and exercise.
which revolve around the proton in an atom.
(b) The feeling of being disgraced arouses the
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
worst fighting animal instincts.
(a) honour the pioneering efforts of Rutherford and
(c) Sports have the quality of making better
his followers.
international relations.
(b) refute the existence of submicroscopic particle.
(d) The behaviour of players is significant.
(c) illustrate how scientists measure molecular
3. Which of the following is true?
diameter.
(a) Nations believe that display of sporting skills
(d) summarize the then current findings on the
as a test of national virtue.
composition of matter.
(b) At the international level, sport is nothing more
2. According to the passage, all of the following are
than a competitive game.
true of the centre of the atom except that it
(c) Spectator’s attitude determines the tempo of
(a) has not yet been seen by the naked eye.
the game.
(b) contains elements that are positively charged.
(d) A school football match is played with a feeling
of local patriotism. (c) is a little larger than a molecule.
4. The author has suggested which of the following? (d) f ollows experimentally determinable
processes.
(a) The game of cricket causes much ill-will.
3. By referring to the space in a millimetre, the author
(b) Women spectators are the worst.
intends to point up the atom’s
(c) Because of their behaviour, women are kept
(a) density (b) mystery
out of the boxing audience of some matches.
(c) velocity (d) minuteness
(d) The fight between a white and a black boxer is
fascinating. 4. Which of the following relationships most closely
parallels the relationship between the proton and
Passage-11
the electrons described in the passage?
In today’s world matter as we know it, is made up of
(a) A hawk to its prey
molecules, each of which is, on an average, roughly
1/125 millionth of an inch. These molecules are to (b) A blueprint to a framework
be further broken down into atoms which are so (c) A planet to its satellites
minuscule in size, that almost 15-20 million of them (d) A compound to its elements
Passage-12 4. The tone used by the author in the passage is
As we have seen adaptive divergence is the scientific one of
terminology used when organisms, which are alike in (a) skepticism (b) explanation
certain aspects, adopt entirely different characters (c) admiration (d) disgust
while trying to adapt themselves to new and hostile
environment. The opposite of adaptive divergence, that 5. According to the passage whales and dolphines
is adaptive convergence, is an interesting yet all too may be classified as
common occurrence in the process of evolution. It is (a) mammals (b) fossils
when organisms which totally differ from one another (c) reptiles (d) homeomorphs
take on similar modes of life or adjust themselves Passage-13
and become suited to survive in special sorts of
environments. It is a fairly common phenomenon that A piece of African artistry when first observed will
invertebrate marine animals living firmly attached to appear to you as a single unitary object of immense
the sea bottom or to some foreign object have artistic value. You do not tend to perceive it as a
tendency to develop a conical or sub-cylindrical form, collection of myriad shapes and forms, which is
examples of which are corals and sponges. essentially proof to the fact that these shapes and
forms have been so skillfully moulded together that
A more suited example being the streamlined fitness
you, as the viewer, were so emotionally affected that
of most fishes for moving swiftly through water; they
you immediately saw what the artist was trying to
have no neck, the contour of the body is smoothly
convey by his sculpture.
curved so as to give minimum resistance, and the
chief propelling organ is a powerful tail fin. That some It is quite common to address the reasons behind the
fossil reptiles (ichthyosaurs) and modern mammals achievement of this unique and unified picture, and
(whales, dolphins) are completely fishlike in form, is the question of whether there are a set of fixed rules
illustrative of adaptive convergence, as these air- or plastic language which governs African sculpture
breathing reptiles and mammals, which are highly so as to give it that powerful sense of communication.
efficient swimmers, are in no way closely related to Another point of interest is that in the existence of
fishes. Unrelated or distantly related organisms that this particular fixed code of operation, whether
develop similarity of form to suit special environments consciousness or instinct are the governing factors in
are sometimes designated as homeomorphs (having the production of such high quality.
the same form). It is obvious from the study of art history that an intense
1. The author mentions ichthyosaurs and dolphins and unified emotional experience, such as the Christian
as examples of Credo of the Byzantine or 12th or 13th century Europe,
(a) modern mammalian life forms that are aquatic. when expressed in art forms, gave great unity,
coherence and power to art. But such an integrated
(b) species with slightly greater mobility than other
feeling was only the inspirational element for the artist,
fish.
only the starting point of the creative act. The
(c) air-breathing reptiles closely related to fish. expression of this emotion and its realization in the
(d) organisms that have evolved into fishlike forms. work could be done only with discipline and thorough
2. According to the passage, adaptive convergence knowledge of the craft.
and adaptive divergence are As a child, the African sculptor learns the use and
(a) manifestations of evolutionary patterns. significance of his tools and the various styles of
(b) hypotheses unsupported by biological sculpting associated with his tribe under the thorough
phenomena. guidance of his master, so when he grows up carving
becomes second nature to him and he does not think
(c) ways in which plants and animals adjust to a of the rules but follows them automatically and
common environment. instinctively. The fact that such rules have never been
(d) demonstrated by reptiles and mammals. translated to words does not mean they do not exist,
3. It can be inferred that in the paragraph immediately as such a common style or language of sculpting
preceding this passage the author discussed among all Africans can’t be attributed to accident or
(a) marine intelligence pure co-incidence. The African carver may have often
used these rules along with his individualistic skill and
(b) adaptive divergence
insight into art, but may have been totally oblivious to
(c) air-breathing reptiles their existence for such is the consistency of African
(d) environmental impacts sculpture. Thus, there exists a great unfathomable
mystery of such an art, tradition or talent which has price, then the customer may be assured of his being
been used by certain people, though they themselves cheated as far as the weights are concerned and if
are unconscious of this phenomenon, to follow a set the weights and measures used by these scoundrels
style or rule which may later be analysed by someone are accurate then they will always understate the price
only after the work of art has been created. of silver in the market. A surprising point to be noticed
1. The author is primarily concerned with is that when dealing with Tartars these men, who thrive
(a) discussing how African sculptors achieve their on cheating, will not only weigh the silver correctly
effects. but even allow a little more than the actual weight and
(b) listing the rules followed in African art. even pay more than what is the current market price.
You may be under the impression that they are losers
(c) relating African art to the art of 12th or 13th
in this transaction, and so it might be, if weight and
century Europe.
price were the only two parameters. Their advantage
(d) integrating emotion and realization. is derived when they make their calculations of the
2. According to the passage, one of the outstanding net amount. The silver has to be reduced to specks
features of African sculpture is and when it comes to this, these rascals really do
(a) its esoteric subject matter reduce it by making the most flagrant miscalculations
which the Tartars, who can count absolutely nothing
(b) the emotional content of the work
beyond their own beards, are not only incapable of
(c) the education of training of the artists detecting but of which they are blissfully unaware.
(d) its ‘foreignness’ when compared to Western They are content with knowing that the full weight has
art been allowed and the correct price given and thus are
3. The author uses the phrase ‘plastic language’ to of the opinion that their bullion was well sold.
refer to African art’s 1. The primary purpose of this passage appears to
(a) mass reproduction be to
(b) unrealistic qualities (a) defend the economic practices of money-
(c) modernistic orientation changers.
(d) sense of communication (b) compare the character of the Tartars with that
of the money-changers.
4. The information in the passage suggests that an
African carver might best be compared to (c) explain the relationship between price and
(a) a chef following a recipe weight.
(b) a fluent speaker of English who is just (d) describe the techniques the money-changers
beginning to study French use to take advantage of their customers.
(c) a batter who hits a home run in his or her first 2. Which of the following statements about Tartars
baseball game is supported by the passage?
(d) a concert pianist performing a well-rehearsed (a) Tartars hide valuables in their beards.
concert (b) Tartars are unaware of miscalculation’s made
5. Which of the following titles best expresses the by money changers.
content of the passage? (c) Tartars sell specks of silver.
(a) The Apprenticeship of the African Sculptor (d) Tartars cheat their customers by employing
(b) The History of African Sculpture fraudulent methods of weighing their goods.
(c) How African Art Achieves Unity 3. We can infer from this passage that the money-
(d) The Unconscious Rules of African Art changers
Passage-14 (a) are aware that Tartars are poor mathematicians.
Money changers have many modes or methods of (b) have fixed prices for their transactions.
making a profit from their enterprise. Out of these there (c) convert bullion into pure silver.
are two irregular methods used unscrupulously by (d) lose their transactions with the Tartars.
them to cheat the customers. If they state the correct
Passage-15 (c) It has made them so spherical that they cannot
There exist a few species of mice that demonstrate move easily.
conditions which are neither complete hibernation nor (d) It has caused them to adopt abnormal patterns
aestivation. Contrary to hibernation, where they go of sleep.
into a long sleep under adverse conditions or the most 3. This passage would most likely appear in which
unfavourable and serve season, these species of the following types of publications?
become torpid for a couple of hours on a daily basis.
The first time I came across this phenomenon was (a) A geographical atlas
when I was working on the fat mice in Africa. The (b) A history of African exploration
name is a very appropriate one for these mice, as (c) A textbook on rodent biology
they tend to resemble furry balls on account of their (d) A guide to the care of laboratory animals
bodies being so full of fat. One of these mice was, for
a period of almost five weeks, kept without food or 4. It can be inferred that in the paragraph preceding
water as a result of which it lost almost a third of its this passage the author most likely discussed
weight in fat but still appeared quite healthy. But fat (a) his initial journey to Africa
storage as a way of surviving has rebounded or, in a (b) the problem caused by sleep deprivation
certain manner been also to the disadvantage of the
(c) other types of dormant states
fat mice. Many African tribes regard the mice as a
delicacy and hunt them with great tenacity. On being (d) the physical appearance of rodents
captured the mice are generally fried in their own fat, Passage-16
of which there is no scarcity. These mice spend the The father of the nation ‘Mahatma Gandhi’ was of the
daytime hours of the dry season in such a deep state opinion that man has always been a social animal
of torpor that they can even be manhandled without whose survival has been credited to his ingenuous
fear of being awakened. Their body temperature is a ability to create the means by which groups of men
few degrees higher than laboratory room temperature remain united and retain their relationships with one
and their respiration most irregular, several short pants another. Congregating under peaceful circumstances
and then a pause of up to 3 minutes. Just before sunset is one of the primary requisites of this form of sociability
the mice would rise from their sleep and begin to respire and the history of mankind has always been a
as they normally do when awake. In the above case, movement through the time of human collectivities
the state of torpor was not as a result of shortage of
ranging from small nomadic tribal bands to a large
food or abnormal temperatures. The forest dormouse
and complex civilization.
of southern Asia and Europe exhibits periods of
torpidity during the day time and has been on record The environment in which man strived to survive was
for pausing up to 17 minutes between breaths. The never an easy one to adopt to and always posed a
leaf eared mouse of the Peruvian desert becomes challenge to man with every step he took. This coupled
torpid under severe or adverse conditions. with man’s undying desire to survive was the driving
force behind the introduction of an Orderly State which
1. The primary focus of the passage is to highlight
was governed by a set of rules, which came to be
(a) the inhumane treatment of laboratory known as the law. Thus over the centuries, since the
specimens.
dawn of civilization, man has successfully spanned
(b) the irregularities of respiration in mammals. the eras of his evolution, and having done so, is now
(c) the conditions that induce rodents to hibernate. on the verge of exploring the vast and infinite expanse
(d) the species that exhibit brief periods of of his own galaxy.
dormancy. Man may be deemed as the only living organism
2. It can be inferred from the passage that fat storage possessing within him the intellect to interpret his own
as a method of survival ‘has rebounded’ for fat mice evolution as a progressive step. The worth and the
for which of the following reasons? rights of every individual in complex groups, of which
(a) It has enabled them to go without food and he was a member, increased simultaneously with
water for long periods of time. every change in social life. Contrary to the belief that
they would diminish, as civilizations evolved from small
(b) It has made them particularly tempting to
tribes, individual values now serve as a guide to the
human predators.
laws governing all men.
1. Which of the following is the best expression of Toward the later part of this period, however, the list
the main idea of this article? had changed profoundly. Heart diseases were far out
(a) Oppression and Society. in front; cancer, which had come up from eighth place,
(b) The Evolution of Man. was second; and cerebral haemorrhage and
thrombosis, third. Fatal accidents, which had been
(c) Man’s Animal Instincts.
well down the list, were now fourth, and nephritis was
(d) The Basis for Social Order. fifth. All of these are, of course, composites rather
2. According to the article, unique to a man is the than single diseases, and it is significant that, except
fact that he is for accidents, they are characteristic of the advanced
(a) evolving from a simpler to a more complex being. rather than the early or middle years of life.
(b) a social animal. 1. On the basis of the passage, which of the following
(c) capable of noting his own progress. statements is most tenable?
(d) capable of inflicting injury and causing violence. (a) A cure for cancer will be found within this
3. A suitable title for this passage would be decade.
(a) The Evolution of Mankind (b) Many of the medical problems of today are
problems of the gerontologist (specialist in
(b) Mahatma Gandhi’s View of Man as a
medical problems of old age).
Social Animal
(c) Older persons are more accident prone than
(c) Man the Superior Animal
are younger persons.
(d) The Evolution of Order and its Effect on Society
(d) Tuberculosis has been all but eliminated.
4. The word ‘environment’, in the passage is used in
context with 2. Which one of the following trends is least indicated
in the passage?
(a) the natural environment
(a) As one grows older, one is more subject to
(b) the city life
debilitating disease.
(c) man’s relation with the wildlife around him
(b) Pneumonia has become less common.
(d) the factors surrounding man in his natural
(c) Relative to mortality rates for acute intestinal
habitat which have a bearing on his behaviour
diseases, the mortality rate for cancer has
Passage-17 increased.
Since the dawn of civilization mankind has always (d) The incidence of heart disease has increased.
been plagued by some or the other form of disease.
3. Which one of the following statements is most
The number of lives accounted for by each disease
nearly correct?
has, through the decades, varied continually, though
none of them can be singled out as the leading cause (a) Such mortality trends (stated in the passage)
of death, collectively they are the leading cause of are caused by decreased infant mortality.
deaths. The origin or evolution of diseases has never (b) The changes in the data reported are a function
been too clearcut a phenomenon, though some wishful of improved diagnosis and reporting.
dreamers even attribute it to Pandora’s box of troubles. (c) The mortality data are based on the records of
A survey of the five leading causes of deaths during a physicians who practised continuously from
period from the early 1900s to the mid 1900s shows a 1900 to 1950.
distinct and significant trend. In the early 1900s these (d) There appears to be a greater change in the
causes in order of number of death’s caused were: mortality patterns from 1910 to 1950 than in
i. Tuberculosis, the decade ending in 1910.
ii. Pneumonia, 4. It can be inferred from reading this passage that
iii. Intestinal diseases, (a) longevity increased between 1900 and 1915.
iv. Heart diseases, (b) longevity increased steadily between 1915 and
1950.
v. and Cerebral haemorrhage and thrombosis.
(c) longevity increased significantly between 1900
A decade later the only change was that heart disease
and 1950.
had moved from fourth to fifth place, tuberculosis now
being second, and pneumonia third. (d) longevity was not a factor in these findings.
5. A suitable title for this passage would be Passage-19
(a) The Cause of Diseases As we have seen, generally the male insects are
(b) Old age and its Vulnerability to Diseases smaller than the female insects of the same species
(c) Longevity Through the First Half of the 19th but, however, there are exceptions to this theory which
Century can be understood. Size and strength would be of
(d) An Essay on the Hierarchy of Diseases as added advantage to the males as they generally
Causes of Death engage in battle over the possession of a female and
Passage-18 in the case of stag-beetles (Lucanus), the males are
comparatively larger than the females. There are,
When we next saw Miss Charlotte, she had grown fat
however, other species of beetles which are known to
and her hair was turning grey. During the next few
years it grew greyer and greyer until it attained an fight together, where the males exceed the females in
even pepper-and-salt iron-grey, and up to the day of size though the relevance of this phenomenon is still
her death, at 71, it was still that vigorous iron-grey, unclear, but in some of these cases, as with the huge
like the hair of an active man. From that time on, her Dynastes and Megasoma, we can at least see no
front door remained closed, save for a period of six or necessity for the males to be smaller than the females
seven years, when she was about forty, during which in order to mature faster as these beetles have a long
she gave lessons in China-painting. She fitted up a life span and thus there would be sufficient time for
studio in one of the downstairs rooms, where the the pairing of the sexes.
daughters and granddaughters of General Braxton’s
1. According to the author, the traits of the male
contemporaries were sent to her with the same
Lucanus include which of the following?
regularity and in the same spirit that they were sent
to church on Sundays with a twenty-five-cent piece I. Belligerence
for the collection plate. Meanwhile her taxes had been II. Active intelligence
remitted.
III. Superior bulk
Then the newer generation became the backbone and
the spirit of the town, and the painting pupils grew up (a) I only (b) III only
and fell away and did not send their children to her (c) I and III only (d) II and III only
with boxes of colour and tedious brushes and pictures 2. It can be inferred from the name ‘stag-beetles’ that
cut from the ladies’ magazines. The front door closed the members of this species most likely
on the last one and remained closed for good. When
the town got free postal delivery, Miss Charlotte alone (a) are warm-blooded mammals.
refused to let them fasten the metal numbers above (b) are herbivorous by nature.
her door and attach a mailbox to it. She would not (c) have appendages that resemble horns.
listen to them and was adamant.
(d) are as short-lived as their namesakes.
1. The major subject of the passage is
3. The paragraph preceding this one probably
(a) Miss Charlotte’s attempt to earn a living
(a) discusses a generalization about the size of
(b) the mystery of Miss Charlotte’s sudden aging
insects.
(c) the indifference of the town folk
(b) develops the concept that male insects do not
(d) Miss Charlotte’s changing relationship with the
live long after maturity.
town
2. It can be inferred from the passage that General (c) describes the distinguishing marks of female
Braxton’s contemporaries sent their daughters to insects.
Miss Charlotte because (d) discusses the role of intelligence in male
(a) they wanted them to learn China-painting. insects.
(b) they wished a tactful way of providing her with 4. This passage would be most likely to appear in
money. (a) a school textbook
(c) their daughters lacked ladylike accomplish- (b) a magazine
ments.
(c) an essay on stag-beetles
(d) they knew she was offering lessons for a limited
time. (d) a book on insects
Passage-20 This is not the only important role that the hot spots
Scattered on the surface of the earth, there are about have played, as it has now been revealed that they, to
100 or more regions of isolated volcanic activity known a certain extent, influence the geophysical processes
to modern geologists as hot spots. Many of these so that cause the plates to drift over the sea of molten
called hot spots are found lying deep in the interior of rock that forms the earth’s interior. When a tectonic
the tectonic plates which drift on the sea of molten plate rests over a hot spot the molten material coming
rock and are unlike volcanos in the fact that volcanos up from the lower layers creates a broad dome, which
are found on the boundaries of the great drifting plates. as it grows and stretches tends to develop deep
fissures, and in a few cases may cause the continent
These hot spots move slowly and in certain cases, a
to rupture along the formation of these deep cracks
trail of extinct volcanos is left as the plates move past
thus forming a new ocean. Thus, as earlier theories
them. Thus, they act as milestones along with their
provided explanations as to the continental mobility,
volcanic trails, depicting the movement of the tectonic
the hot spots can explain their mutability.
plates.
1. According to the passage, which of the following
The fact that the plates are constantly moving is way
statements indicate that Africa and South America
past any form of dispute. The complementary
once adjoined one another?
coastlines of Africa and South America and certain
geological features that span the ocean are themselves I. They share certain common topographic traits
proof that these two land masses were once joined II. Their shorelines are physical counterparts
and are how moving apart as new material is constantly III. The Af rican plate has been stable f or
introduced into the sea bed between them. The relative 30 million years
motion of the plates on which the continents lie has (a) I only (b) II only
been constructed in detail, but this relative motion
(c) I and II only (d) II and III only
between the plates cannot be easily translated in to
motion with respect to the earth’s interior. It is not 2. According to the passage, the hot spot theory
possible to determine whether both plates are moving eventually may prove useful in interpreting
in opposite directions or if one is stationary while the (a) the boundaries of the plates.
other floats away from it. Hot spots provide the (b) the depth of the ocean floor.
instruments needed for measuring this movement and (c) the relative motion of the plates.
thus answering this question owing to the fact that
(d) major changes in continental shape.
they are deeply embedded in the earth’s lower layers.
It was from an examination of the hot spots that it has 3. The author regards the theory of plate movement
been deduced that the African plate has not moved, it as
has remained stationary for the past 30 million years (a) controversial (b) irrefutable
while the other plates are moving away from it. (c) tangential (d) dubious
Answer Key
Passage – 1
1. (a) 2. (c) 3. (b) 4. (d) 5. (d) 6. (a)
Passage – 2
1. (d) 2. (c) 3. (d) 4. (a) 5. (c) 6. (b)
Passage – 3
1. (c) 2. (c) 3. (c) 4. (a) 5. (d) 6. (a)
Passage – 4
1. (a) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (b)
Passage – 5
1. (c) 2. (c) 3. (d) 4. (b) 5. (d)
Passage – 6
1. (d) 2. (a) 3. (d) 4. (b) 5. (b) 6. (a)
Passage – 7
1. (b) 2. (c) 3. (d)
Passage – 8
1. (b) 2. (d) 3. (b) 4. (c) 5. (d)
Passage – 9
1. (a) 2. (c) 3. (d) 4. (d)
Passage – 10
1. (c) 2. (b) 3. (a) 4. (c)
Passage – 11
1. (d) 2. (c) 3. (d) 4. (c)
Passage – 12
1. (d) 2. (a) 3. (b) 4. (b) 5. (d)
Passage – 13
1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (d) 4. (d) 5. (d)
Passage – 14
1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (a)
Passage – 15
1. (d) 2. (b) 3. (c) 4. (c)
Passage – 16
1. (d) 2. (c) 3. (d) 4. (d)
Passage – 17
1. (b) 2. (a) 3. (d) 4. (c) 5. (d)
Passage – 18
1. (d) 2. (a)
Passage – 19
1. (c) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (d)
Passage – 20
1. (c) 2. (d) 3. (b)
Explanations
Passage-1 Passage-3
1. a Refer to the line “Born on March 12, 1922 ...... 1. c The passage mostly talks about the monotremes’s
typically all American childhood”, given in second relation with both reptiles and mammals (refer to
paragraph of the passage. Hence, option (a) is the first three paragraphs). Hence, option (c) is
the correct answer. the correct answer.
2. c Refer to the line “Kerouac first landed in the San.... 2. c The first paragraph clearly states that monotremes,
on a merchant marine ship”, given in the third like other mammals, have hair, large brains and
paragraph of the passage. Hence, option (c) is mammary glands. Hence, option (c) is the correct
the correct answer. answer.
3. b Refer to the line “Kerouac first landed in the San 3. c Refer to lines “They share some qualities .........
Francisco Bay area...he soon met his kindred produce milk to nourish their offspring” given in
spirit, Neal Cassady”, given in the third paragraph. paragraph 1 of the passage. Hence, option (c) in
Thus, option (b) is the correct answer. the correct choice.
4. d The passage clearly states that On the Road was 4. a The third paragraph states that monotreme babies
written as a personal testament which means are born in early stage of development and depend
autobiography. Hence, option (d) is the correct upon their parents. Hence, option (a) is the correct
answer. answer.
5. d Refer to lines “He split from the ranks of his .... 5. d The fourth passage states that the duck-billed
America’s was effort in Vietnam.”, “Born on March platypus is one of the three types of monotremes
12, 1922, in Lowell, Massachusetts ...... typically in existence. Hence, option (d) is the correct
all American childhood” and “Before becoming the answer.
father ...... Lower East and Lower West sides” 6. a Refer to line “The female echidna lays one egg at
given in paragraphs 5, 2 and 3 respectively. Hence, a time into a pouch that she develops in her
option (d) is the correct choice. abdomen”, given in fourth paragraph of the
6. a The most suitable title for the passage is Post- passage. Hence, option (a) is the correct choice.
war Literature and a New Beginning. Passage-4
Passage-2 1. a The first paragraph clearly states that millions of
asteroids are the size of boulders. Hence option
1. d The whole passage resolves around Rock and roll
(a) is the correct answer.
music and how it came into existence. Hence,
option (d) is the correct answer. 2. c Refer to the line "An asteroid that hits ……. a
bright flash of light" given in the first paragraph of
2. c Refer to the line “African-American performers like
the passage. Hence, option (c) is the correct
..... and blues, and jazz”, given in the first
answer.
paragraph of the passage. All the musicians except
Elvis Presley have been stated as African - 3. a Refer to the line - “smaller meteors such as the
American performers. Hence, option (c) is the one that caused the Metro’s Crater in Arizona...”
correct choice. Thus, option (a) is the correct answer.
3. d The first paragraph states that true rock-and-rock 4. b The second paragraph states that there has not
is a combination of various elements from country, been any historical record of a person being killed
western, gospel, rhythm and blues and jazz. So, by a meteorite. The only reported injury occurred
option (d) is the correct answer. to an Alabama based woman. So, option (b) is
the correct answer.
4. a The first line clearly states that rock-and-roll was
invented in the United States in the 1950s. Passage-5
1. c The passage states that within few weeks of the
5. c The third paragraph states that many performers
movies release, a surprisingly similar incident
copied songs from original artists.
occurred at Three Mile Island. So we can say that
6. b All the options, correct (b) can be inferred from the nuclear accident in the movie was a
the passage. Hence, option (b) is the correct answer. foreshadowing of actual events.
2. c The second paragraph states that nuclear power 3. d Refer to the line "I am sitting at an airport …
industry leaders have showed reluctance in emotion is intense", given in the first paragraph of
cooperating with the investigators of the accident. the passage. This aspect is also mentioned
intermittently in other segments of the passage.
3. d Refer to lines "Perhaps we will ……. the facts
Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.
remain unknown", given in the second paragraph
of the passage. Hence, option (d) is the correct Passage-8
answer. 1. b The central idea of the passage is especially
4. b Refer to the line "We do know that, despite …….. evident from the lines "The lesson Mathew's father
… short-term decisions about them", given in the
the facts remain unknown", given in the second
third paragraph of the passage. It is quite clear
paragraph of the passage. Hence, option (b) is
that the central idea of the passage pertains to
the correct answer.
‘Good Parenting’. Hence, option (b) is the correct
5. d The passage clearly states that a real life nuclear answer.
power based accident occurred within few weeks 2. d Refer to the line "His teacher, Rebecca Sacra
of the movie’s release. Hence, option (d) is not wondered how such a bright boy could be so
true as per the passage. irresponsible", given in the first paragraph of the
Passage-6 passage. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.
1. d The second paragraph states that Aristole grew 3. b Refer to the line "She braced herself, though … or
overnight trying to rescue and save what was left when he broke bounds", given in the second
of his family. Hence, option (d) is the correct paragraph of the passage. Hence, option (b) is
answer. the correct answer.
2. a Refer to the line "Not the least in horror ……. being 4. c Refer to the line "You wouldn't really flunk … wasn't
useful to the Turks", given in the first paragraph of late ever again" given in the third paragraph of the
the passage. Hence, option (b) is the correct passage. This shows only one possibility, that
answer. Mathew feared being reprimanded and thus, started
turning up on time. Hence, option (c) is the correct
3. d ‘Catechism’ in Roman Catholic use means a answer.
summary of religious instruction or doctrine.
5. d Refer to the line "What Mathew's dad dreaded …
Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.
responsibility for his own actions", given in the
4. b The passage clearly states that Socrates Onassis second paragraph of the passage. Hence, option
was in a Turkish prison for trial as a political offender. (d) is the correct answer.
Hence, option (b) is the correct answer. Passage-9
5. b The first paragraph states that the Turks were 1. a Refer to the line “That apart Mrs. Gandhi spoke
taking horrible revenge for the Greek atrocities on as a national leader not as a congress leader”,
Turkish population. Hence, option (b) is the correct given in the first paragraph of the passage. Hence,
answer. option (a) is the correct answer.
6. a The third paragraph states that in order to save 2. c The second passage states that Mrs. Gandhi’s
his father, Aristole needed a great deal of money. statement on recent developments in Sri Lanka
Hence, option (a) is the correct answer. reflected a deterioration in India’s international
Passage-7 position. Thus, option (c) is the correct answer.
1. b The sixth paragraph states that while sitting at 3. d Refer to lines “While the situation in Punjab...as
the airport and waiting for his flight, the author befits a person in her position”, given in the second
paragraph of the passage. Hence option (d) is the
observes a five year old child and his grandfather
correct answer.
and wonders how someone would capture the
moment share between them. 4. d The passage gives instances where Mrs. Gandhi
exercised tact and sensitivity in dealing with
2. c Refer to the lines "A grandmother and grandson
individuals and issues. She never attacked the
… to help the grandmother", given in the third opposition or press and spoke on the Punjab and
paragraph of the passage. Hence, option (c) is Sri Lankan issues with great care. Hence, she
the correct choice. can rightfully be labelled a diplomatic politician.
Passage-10 5. d The last few lines state that whales and dolphins
1. c Throughout the passage, the author states adopt fishlike forms to suit special environments.
instances which show how international sports lead Such organisms are called 'homeomorphs'.
to orgies of hatred. When played at international Passage-13
scales, they mimic warfare and arouse strong
feelings of rivalry. Hence, option (c) is the correct 1. a Throughout the passage, the author discusses how
answer. African sculptors achieve the effects they desire.
He talks of how they practice discipline and have
2. b Refer to the second paragraph line 4 - “as soon as
the question of prestige arises...the most savage thorough knowledge of their craft. Hence, option
instincts are aroused”. Hence, option (b) is the (a) is the correct answer.
correct answer. 2. b The third passage talks solely about the emotional
3. a The passage states that nations seriously believe experience of some African sculptures and how
that running, jumping and kicking a ball are a test emotions are expressed by them. So option (b) is
of national virtue. Thus, option (a) is the correct the answer.
answer. 3. d Refer to the line "It is quite common … powerful
4. c In the third paragraph, the author states that sense of communication", given in the second
women are kept out of the boxing matches held in paragraph of the passage. Hence, option (d) is
the army due to their behavior. Hence, option (c) the correct answer.
is the correct answer.
4. d At the time of the performance the Pianist does
Passage-11
not refer to any rulebook but there are certain
1. d Option (d) the correct answer. The other options unwritten rules that are followed by him. Similarly,
strike themselves out as the passage does not
an African artist does the carving as a "second
deal with Rutherford’s efforts or refute the existence
nature". Hence, option (d) is the correct choice.
of a particle, neither does it illustrate the method
of measurement or analyse any one theory. 5. d The passage concerns itself with the plastic
2. c The size of the nucleus (centre) of an atom, though language or unconscious rules governing African
smaller than the molecule of which it is a part, art and thus, option (d) is most suitable.
has not been discussed with relation to the Passage-14
molecule itself, i.e. if it is smaller or larger than
1. d From the beginning lines of the passage one can
the molecule. Hence, option (c) is the correct
easily infer that the primary purpose of the
answer.
passage is to describe the techniques, modes and
3. d The author wishes to impress upon the reader the
methods employed by the money changers to take
‘minuteness’ of the size of an atom.
advantage of their customers.
4. c Just as the electrons revolve around a proton,
satellites revolve around their planet. Hence, option 2. b Refer to the line - “these rascals really also reduce
(c) is the correct answer. it... they are blissfully unaware.” Thus, we can say
that option (b) is correct.
Passage-12
1. d Ref er to lines “That some f ossil reptiles 3. a The money changers are able to cheat the Tartars
(ichthyosaurs) and ...... are fish like in form, given only because they are aware that Tartars are
in the second paragraph of the passage. Hence, incapable of detecting the miscalculations of these
option (d) in the correct choice. money changers. Hence, option (a) is the correct
2. a The first paragraph states that adaptiv e answer.
convergence and divergence are part of the process Passage-15
of evolution. Hence option (a) is the correct answer. 1. d The primary purpose of this passage is to focus
3. b The passage starts with the line “As we have seen on the species of mice or rodents that exhibit or
adaptive divergence...” This shows that the undergo brief periods of dormancy. Hence, option
preceeding passage dealt with divergence. (d) is the answer.
4. b The author is trying to provide explanations with
2. b Refer to the line – “these rascals also it...they
suitable examples to illustrate the theories of
are blissfully unaware.” These, we can say that
adaptive divergence of convergence. Hence, option
(b) is the correct answer. option (b) is correct.
3. c The fact that the passage begins with the line 5. d Option (d) is a suitable title because the author
“There exist a few species of mice ...” and then wishes to depict the changing trend in the order
goes on to describe the species which display and importance of various diseases as the leading
the tendency to remain torpid for certain periods, causes of death.
is in itself indicative that it may be an excerpt from
a book on rodent biology. Passage-18
4. c The passage starts by saying that there are some 1. d This passage is mainly concerned with how, as
species which are neither the hibernating kind nor time progressed and generations changed, Miss
the aestivating kind, which are both periods during Charlotte’s relationship with the town changed.
which the mice remain dormant hence we may 2. a The passage clearly states that General Braxton’s
assume that the previous paragraph dealt with the contemporaries send their daughters to Miss
other types of dormant states.
Charlotte to learn China-painting.
Passage-16
Passage-19
1. d Options (a) and (c) automatically disqualify
1. c The passage states that male Lucanus engage in
themselves as there is no mention of violence or
animal instincts in the passage. Option (b) sounds a battle over the possession of a female and are
vague as we are not dealing with the evolution of comparatively larger than the females. Hence,
man but rather the evolution of social order and option (c) is the correct answer. The word
orderly state. Hence, option (d) is the correct ‘belligerence’ means warlike attitude.
answer. 2. c The other options do not in any way fit as a beetle
2. c Options (b) and (d) are disqualified as they have is an insect. Also stags have antlers (horns), which
no bearing to the passage. Option (a) deals with are probably similar to the appendages of these
the evolution of man and deals with only the first animals.
paragraph of the passage. Option (c) has been
clearly stated in the third paragraph. 3. a The opening line states that “As we have seen,
generally the male insects are smaller than female
3. d Option (d) is most suitable as it concerns itself
insects...” The leads us to believe that the
with the essence of the passage, i.e. social order.
preceding paragraph discussed a generalization
4. d The environment in the passage is, in totality,
about insect size. Thus, option (a) is the correct
everything which is present in the natural habitat
of a man and effects his behaviour be it in the city answer.
or in the wild. 4. d The other options are not suitable as (a) and (b)
Passage-17 are too vague and (c) concentrates only on the
1. b Towards the end of the passage it is clearly stag beetles. Thus, the correct option is (d).
mentioned that with exception to accidents, the Passage-20
other diseases are more prone to advanced years 1. c The author has stated that the similarity between
or old age. the coastlines and certain geological features that
2. a Options (b), (c) and (d) can all be clearly deduced span across the ocean are proof that South
from the passage which leaves only option (a) America and Africa were once joined.
which has not been indicated at all.
2. d Towards the end of the passage it has been
3. d As per the passage, during the decade after 1900s
explained by the author as to how the continental
(upto 1910 or so) there were 5 main diseases which
plates may rupture along the fissures created by
merely changed in order of importance. However,
towards the latter part of the period from 1900 to hot spots and thus result in major changes in the
1950, the list of main diseases underwent profound shape of the continents.
change. Hence, option (d) is the correct answer. 3. b The author has clearly stated in the passage that
4. c The last few lines of the passage state that the theory of plate movement is way past any form
diseases that lead to death were predominant of dispute hence irrefutable.
amongst elderly people (during the latter part of
1900 - 1950). Thus we can say longevity increased
during this period.

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