Reading Comprehension - 3

Why did Swam leave his friend Mohan in the waters?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

It was Sunday. As usual, there was a great rush of merry makers who had come to the river to swim or to bathe. Those who knew how to swim were jumping into the water from the high bridge or the banks of the deep river. Mohan did not know how to swim so he was merely watching others who were enjoying the fun of swimming. However on the insistence of his friend Swam, he sat on his shoulders and both jumped into the water. Unable to carry Mohan along, Swam left him in the flowing water. Mohan shouted for help. There were so many swimmers but nobody came to his rescue since they were indifferent to the plight of a stranger. I had just reached there, so I was in my full dress. Without undressing I jumped into the river and swam up to the drowning boy. Holding his left arm, I brought him out of water in a way that he might not hinder me from swimming safely. The boy was saved which won me great applause from the people. I had jumped into the water without any fear or hesitation as I knew the art of saving drowning people. I had already saved a few lives from drowning.

Why did Swam jump into the water carrying Mohan on his shoulders?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

It was Sunday. As usual, there was a great rush of merry makers who had come to the river to swim or to bathe. Those who knew how to swim were jumping into the water from the high bridge or the banks of the deep river. Mohan did not know how to swim so he was merely watching others who were enjoying the fun of swimming. However on the insistence of his friend Swam, he sat on his shoulders and both jumped into the water. Unable to carry Mohan along, Swam left him in the flowing water. Mohan shouted for help. There were so many swimmers but nobody came to his rescue since they were indifferent to the plight of a stranger. I had just reached there, so I was in my full dress. Without undressing I jumped into the river and swam up to the drowning boy. Holding his left arm, I brought him out of water in a way that he might not hinder me from swimming safely. The boy was saved which won me great applause from the people. I had jumped into the water without any fear or hesitation as I knew the art of saving drowning people. I had already saved a few lives from drowning.

The author seems to disapprove further extraction and consumption of fossil fuels. Which of the following is the most likely reason for that?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

We have built up an energy intensive society, such that hundreds of daily acts are dependent on having energy at our ready command. Most of that energy comes from fossil fuels. Yet, within two centuries we will have used up nearly all of the fossil fuel that has been built up over millions of years of earth time. Furthermore, the extraction and consumption of fossil fuels is a major polluter of our environment. Our appetite for energy is seemingly insatiable. We are now searching for it in different places and using methods that inevitably upset and pollute the environment. Since fossil energy will soon be gone we are searching for alternative sources.

According to the author, we are searching for alternative sources of energy. What is the most likely reason for this?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

We have built up an energy intensive society, such that hundreds of daily acts are dependent on having energy at our ready command. Most of that energy comes from fossil fuels. Yet, within two centuries we will have used up nearly all of the fossil fuel that has been built up over millions of years of earth time. Furthermore, the extraction and consumption of fossil fuels is a major polluter of our environment. Our appetite for energy is seemingly insatiable. We are now searching for it in different places and using methods that inevitably upset and pollute the environment. Since fossil energy will soon be gone we are searching for alternative sources.

Why did the writer jump into the river without any fear or hesitation?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

It was Sunday. As usual, there was a great rush of merry makers who had come to the river to swim or to bathe. Those who knew how to swim were jumping into the water from the high bridge or the banks of the deep river. Mohan did not know how to swim so he was merely watching others who were enjoying the fun of swimming. However on the insistence of his friend Swam, he sat on his shoulders and both jumped into the water. Unable to carry Mohan along, Swam left him in the flowing water. Mohan shouted for help. There were so many swimmers but nobody came to his rescue since they were indifferent to the plight of a stranger. I had just reached there, so I was in my full dress. Without undressing I jumped into the river and swam up to the drowning boy. Holding his left arm, I brought him out of water in a way that he might not hinder me from swimming safely. The boy was saved which won me great applause from the people. I had jumped into the water without any fear or hesitation as I knew the art of saving drowning people. I had already saved a few lives from drowning.

According to the passage, books live for ever because

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

Books are, by far, the most lasting product of human effort. Temples crumble into ruins. Pictures and statues decay, but books survive. Time does not destroy the great thoughts which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their authors minds ages ago. The only effect of time has been to throw out of currency, the bad products, for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good and of lasting value. Books introduce us into the best society; they bring us into the presence of the greatest minds that have ever lived, we hear what they said and did; we see them as if they were really alive, we sympathise with them, enjoy with them and grieve with them.

“Lasting value” in the passage means

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

Books are, by far, the most lasting product of human effort. Temples crumble into ruins. Pictures and statues decay, but books survive. Time does not destroy the great thoughts which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their authors minds ages ago. The only effect of time has been to throw out of currency, the bad products, for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good and of lasting value. Books introduce us into the best society; they bring us into the presence of the greatest minds that have ever lived, we hear what they said and did; we see them as if they were really alive, we sympathise with them, enjoy with them and grieve with them.

According to the passage, temples, pictures and statues belong to the same category because

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

Books are, by far, the most lasting product of human effort. Temples crumble into ruins. Pictures and statues decay, but books survive. Time does not destroy the great thoughts which are as fresh today as when they first passed through their authors minds ages ago. The only effect of time has been to throw out of currency, the bad products, for nothing in literature can long survive but what is really good and of lasting value. Books introduce us into the best society; they bring us into the presence of the greatest minds that have ever lived, we hear what they said and did; we see them as if they were really alive, we sympathise with them, enjoy with them and grieve with them.

Which of the following does not describe the activities of the man as mentioned in the passage?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

The pre-historic man preferred this area as three of his primary needs — water, raw material for tool making and game in the thick jungles, were available here in plenty. Mr. Sharma found sites on top of hills where huge boulders have been cut flat. These flat rocks were found in a round formation. Probably they sat on these and there was a fire in the middle. It was also a site where the tools were made. It was like a national pastime. They made tools to throw at animals. There was little chance of killing them with one tool. Mr. Sharma says there are strong chances of finding fossils in the area.

Mr. Sharma is most probably working as

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

The pre-historic man preferred this area as three of his primary needs — water, raw material for tool making and game in the thick jungles, were available here in plenty. Mr. Sharma found sites on top of hills where huge boulders have been cut flat. These flat rocks were found in a round formation. Probably they sat on these and there was a fire in the middle. It was also a site where the tools were made. It was like a national pastime. They made tools to throw at animals. There was little chance of killing them with one tool. Mr. Sharma says there are strong chances of finding fossils in the area.

The demand for freedom became a ‘great force’. What is the most likely reason for it?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

A whole generation of Indians gave up everything and spent their lives in fighting the British in Gandhi’s way, without hurting, without violence, without hatred. The hope that India would one day be free kept them going through very difficult times and gave them courage. When millions of people want the same thing very much, it is a great force which even the most powerful army cannot oppose.

Today we are dependent on energy for everything. What is the most likely factor that contributes to this situation?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

We have built up an energy intensive society, such that hundreds of daily acts are dependent on having energy at our ready command. Most of that energy comes from fossil fuels. Yet, within two centuries we will have used up nearly all of the fossil fuel that has been built up over millions of years of earth time. Furthermore, the extraction and consumption of fossil fuels is a major polluter of our environment. Our appetite for energy is seemingly insatiable. We are now searching for it in different places and using methods that inevitably upset and pollute the environment. Since fossil energy will soon be gone we are searching for alternative sources.

Which is the ‘most powerful army’ referred to in the passage?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question.

A whole generation of Indians gave up everything and spent their lives in fighting the British in Gandhi’s way, without hurting, without violence, without hatred. The hope that India would one day be free kept them going through very difficult times and gave them courage. When millions of people want the same thing very much, it is a great force which even the most powerful army cannot oppose.