English Reading Comprehension

Intense

Directions: Some words in the news item below have been highlighted. Select the best contextual meaning of the related words.

During the scene where Kasturba passes away, Ben Kingsley had to emote silently. He heard my version of the script very sincerely and asked me five meticulous questions. As he faced the movie camera, he had all the sorrow in his heart which slowly came up to his eyes. Kingsley actually shed a couple of tears, reacting uniquely with his own emotion. It was one of the most intense shots I have ever canned. My objective of showing the human side of Mahatma Gandhi was fulfilled. Till date, it remains a cinematic journey for me.

Meticulous

Directions: Some words in the news item below have been highlighted. Select the best contextual meaning of the related words.

During the scene where Kasturba passes away, Ben Kingsley had to emote silently. He heard my version of the script very sincerely and asked me five meticulous questions. As he faced the movie camera, he had all the sorrow in his heart which slowly came up to his eyes. Kingsley actually shed a couple of tears, reacting uniquely with his own emotion. It was one of the most intense shots I have ever canned. My objective of showing the human side of Mahatma Gandhi was fulfilled. Till date, it remains a cinematic journey for me.

Emote

Directions: Some words in the news item below have been highlighted. Select the best contextual meaning of the related words.

During the scene where Kasturba passes away, Ben Kingsley had to emote silently. He heard my version of the script very sincerely and asked me five meticulous questions. As he faced the movie camera, he had all the sorrow in his heart which slowly came up to his eyes. Kingsley actually shed a couple of tears, reacting uniquely with his own emotion. It was one of the most intense shots I have ever canned. My objective of showing the human side of Mahatma Gandhi was fulfilled. Till date, it remains a cinematic journey for me.

Evacuated

Directions: Some words in the news item below have been highlighted. Select the best contextual meaning of the related words.

The United States of America evacuated its embassy in the Central African Republic, reflecting growing fears that the capital, Bangui, may fall to rebel forces called Saleka. The country's President Francois Bozize sought French and American help against the insurgents, who have been making rapid territorial gains. France, however, rejected any intervention.

Emeka’s first job was _______________

Reading Passage: Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
Directions: Read the passage carefully:
Once more, fate dealt him another fatal blow. His spare parts shop in the market had been glutted by fire. Everything he worked for, his sweat, his source of livelihood, all gone. What was he to do now? Who  would he turn to for help?
In his two room apartment, he sat quietly and remem­bered how at the age of sixteen his father died, leaving behind his mother, himself and his five younger brothers. He was at that age, in grade five, a brilliant student with a dream of becoming a successful accountant. But now he had to shoul­der the responsibility of taking care of his younger brothers while going to school.
Life was hard on him. Everyday, he would wake up as early as four o'clock to help his mother in domestic chores and preparing his younger brothers for school. At seven o' clock, he would start off for school. Hoping and praying for the best for his mother in her sales. She sold  food stuff at the local market and from the proceeds she paid her sons’ school fees and provided for their basic needs. But this was hardly enough as sometimes, they would have to go without food and in tattered clothes. Emeka was not discouraged in his efforts to study hard and came out in flying colours. He strove constantly to keep his will strong for he knew that where there is a will there is always a way.
He waded through secondary school and obtained a high grade in his final exams. With this, he hoped to gain admission into the university which he did. This also meant that his mother would have to spend more money on his tuition fees and feeding. He knew that the burden on his mother would be too great. So, he decided to take the burden on himself and look for a part time job out of which he was able to fend for himself. He found a job as a waiter in an eatery in the university premises. He would start work at 4 a.m. and close at 10.00 p.m. This was no easy task but somehow he endured the hardship considering it as a training ground, and hoping that one day fate would be merciful to him.
Emeka studied real hard for his final exams and came out with a second class upper degree. He hoped he would be able to obtain a job with this but was bitterly disappointed as virtually no firm was willing to give him a job. He had become one of the thousands of unemployed youths in the country. Emeka was doggedly determined to make it in life so he out­ rightly refused to allow himself to be pitied. He asked for help from some of his friends in order to rent a shop in which he would sell car spare parts. Out of the sales, he helped his mother take care of his younger brothers. As a matter of fact, he was doing quite well but unfortunately, everything was gone. It seemed that this major incident had sapped all of his strength to carry on. His future seemed to have become bleak. Lamenting his woes, he cried out. "O God! Why me? Why me?
His very good friend Eze tried to console him and encourage him to carry on assuring him that behind every dark cloud there is always a silver lining. Emeka took up the courage and picked up the pieces of his life once again.
One Monday afternoon, about two weeks after the inci­dent, a letter came to him. He wondered who could have sent it. He read the letter and found out that it was a job offer from a renowned bank in the country to become the manager of one of their branches in Lagos. He did not know how he was chosen for the job but he remembered that he had gone there for an interview. He was told to start the job with imme­diate effect. He was also given an official car and an apartment. Now it seemed as if fate was compensating him for all he had lost and he could do nothing but thank God over and over again for blessing him so. Words were not enough to express his joy and he remem­bered Eze's statement that every cloud has a silver lining. And that was exactly what happened to him.

The term 'proceeds' , as used in the passage, means

Reading Passage: Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
Directions: Read the passage carefully:
Once more, fate dealt him another fatal blow. His spare parts shop in the market had been glutted by fire. Everything he worked for, his sweat, his source of livelihood, all gone. What was he to do now? Who  would he turn to for help?
In his two room apartment, he sat quietly and remem­bered how at the age of sixteen his father died, leaving behind his mother, himself and his five younger brothers. He was at that age, in grade five, a brilliant student with a dream of becoming a successful accountant. But now he had to shoul­der the responsibility of taking care of his younger brothers while going to school.
Life was hard on him. Everyday, he would wake up as early as four o'clock to help his mother in domestic chores and preparing his younger brothers for school. At seven o' clock, he would start off for school. Hoping and praying for the best for his mother in her sales. She sold  food stuff at the local market and from the proceeds she paid her sons’ school fees and provided for their basic needs. But this was hardly enough as sometimes, they would have to go without food and in tattered clothes. Emeka was not discouraged in his efforts to study hard and came out in flying colours. He strove constantly to keep his will strong for he knew that where there is a will there is always a way.
He waded through secondary school and obtained a high grade in his final exams. With this, he hoped to gain admission into the university which he did. This also meant that his mother would have to spend more money on his tuition fees and feeding. He knew that the burden on his mother would be too great. So, he decided to take the burden on himself and look for a part time job out of which he was able to fend for himself. He found a job as a waiter in an eatery in the university premises. He would start work at 4 a.m. and close at 10.00 p.m. This was no easy task but somehow he endured the hardship considering it as a training ground, and hoping that one day fate would be merciful to him.
Emeka studied real hard for his final exams and came out with a second class upper degree. He hoped he would be able to obtain a job with this but was bitterly disappointed as virtually no firm was willing to give him a job. He had become one of the thousands of unemployed youths in the country. Emeka was doggedly determined to make it in life so he out­ rightly refused to allow himself to be pitied. He asked for help from some of his friends in order to rent a shop in which he would sell car spare parts. Out of the sales, he helped his mother take care of his younger brothers. As a matter of fact, he was doing quite well but unfortunately, everything was gone. It seemed that this major incident had sapped all of his strength to carry on. His future seemed to have become bleak. Lamenting his woes, he cried out. "O God! Why me? Why me?
His very good friend Eze tried to console him and encourage him to carry on assuring him that behind every dark cloud there is always a silver lining. Emeka took up the courage and picked up the pieces of his life once again.
One Monday afternoon, about two weeks after the inci­dent, a letter came to him. He wondered who could have sent it. He read the letter and found out that it was a job offer from a renowned bank in the country to become the manager of one of their branches in Lagos. He did not know how he was chosen for the job but he remembered that he had gone there for an interview. He was told to start the job with imme­diate effect. He was also given an official car and an apartment. Now it seemed as if fate was compensating him for all he had lost and he could do nothing but thank God over and over again for blessing him so. Words were not enough to express his joy and he remem­bered Eze's statement that every cloud has a silver lining. And that was exactly what happened to him.

Which of the following proves that life was very hard on Emeka?

Reading Passage: Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
Directions: Read the passage carefully:
Once more, fate dealt him another fatal blow. His spare parts shop in the market had been glutted by fire. Everything he worked for, his sweat, his source of livelihood, all gone. What was he to do now? Who  would he turn to for help?
In his two room apartment, he sat quietly and remem­bered how at the age of sixteen his father died, leaving behind his mother, himself and his five younger brothers. He was at that age, in grade five, a brilliant student with a dream of becoming a successful accountant. But now he had to shoul­der the responsibility of taking care of his younger brothers while going to school.
Life was hard on him. Everyday, he would wake up as early as four o'clock to help his mother in domestic chores and preparing his younger brothers for school. At seven o' clock, he would start off for school. Hoping and praying for the best for his mother in her sales. She sold  food stuff at the local market and from the proceeds she paid her sons’ school fees and provided for their basic needs. But this was hardly enough as sometimes, they would have to go without food and in tattered clothes. Emeka was not discouraged in his efforts to study hard and came out in flying colours. He strove constantly to keep his will strong for he knew that where there is a will there is always a way.
He waded through secondary school and obtained a high grade in his final exams. With this, he hoped to gain admission into the university which he did. This also meant that his mother would have to spend more money on his tuition fees and feeding. He knew that the burden on his mother would be too great. So, he decided to take the burden on himself and look for a part time job out of which he was able to fend for himself. He found a job as a waiter in an eatery in the university premises. He would start work at 4 a.m. and close at 10.00 p.m. This was no easy task but somehow he endured the hardship considering it as a training ground, and hoping that one day fate would be merciful to him.
Emeka studied real hard for his final exams and came out with a second class upper degree. He hoped he would be able to obtain a job with this but was bitterly disappointed as virtually no firm was willing to give him a job. He had become one of the thousands of unemployed youths in the country. Emeka was doggedly determined to make it in life so he out­ rightly refused to allow himself to be pitied. He asked for help from some of his friends in order to rent a shop in which he would sell car spare parts. Out of the sales, he helped his mother take care of his younger brothers. As a matter of fact, he was doing quite well but unfortunately, everything was gone. It seemed that this major incident had sapped all of his strength to carry on. His future seemed to have become bleak. Lamenting his woes, he cried out. "O God! Why me? Why me?
His very good friend Eze tried to console him and encourage him to carry on assuring him that behind every dark cloud there is always a silver lining. Emeka took up the courage and picked up the pieces of his life once again.
One Monday afternoon, about two weeks after the inci­dent, a letter came to him. He wondered who could have sent it. He read the letter and found out that it was a job offer from a renowned bank in the country to become the manager of one of their branches in Lagos. He did not know how he was chosen for the job but he remembered that he had gone there for an interview. He was told to start the job with imme­diate effect. He was also given an official car and an apartment. Now it seemed as if fate was compensating him for all he had lost and he could do nothing but thank God over and over again for blessing him so. Words were not enough to express his joy and he remem­bered Eze's statement that every cloud has a silver lining. And that was exactly what happened to him.

How did Emeka's best friend encourage him to start his life once again?

Reading Passage: Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
Directions: Read the passage carefully:
Once more, fate dealt him another fatal blow. His spare parts shop in the market had been glutted by fire. Everything he worked for, his sweat, his source of livelihood, all gone. What was he to do now? Who  would he turn to for help?
In his two room apartment, he sat quietly and remem­bered how at the age of sixteen his father died, leaving behind his mother, himself and his five younger brothers. He was at that age, in grade five, a brilliant student with a dream of becoming a successful accountant. But now he had to shoul­der the responsibility of taking care of his younger brothers while going to school.
Life was hard on him. Everyday, he would wake up as early as four o'clock to help his mother in domestic chores and preparing his younger brothers for school. At seven o' clock, he would start off for school. Hoping and praying for the best for his mother in her sales. She sold  food stuff at the local market and from the proceeds she paid her sons’ school fees and provided for their basic needs. But this was hardly enough as sometimes, they would have to go without food and in tattered clothes. Emeka was not discouraged in his efforts to study hard and came out in flying colours. He strove constantly to keep his will strong for he knew that where there is a will there is always a way.
He waded through secondary school and obtained a high grade in his final exams. With this, he hoped to gain admission into the university which he did. This also meant that his mother would have to spend more money on his tuition fees and feeding. He knew that the burden on his mother would be too great. So, he decided to take the burden on himself and look for a part time job out of which he was able to fend for himself. He found a job as a waiter in an eatery in the university premises. He would start work at 4 a.m. and close at 10.00 p.m. This was no easy task but somehow he endured the hardship considering it as a training ground, and hoping that one day fate would be merciful to him.
Emeka studied real hard for his final exams and came out with a second class upper degree. He hoped he would be able to obtain a job with this but was bitterly disappointed as virtually no firm was willing to give him a job. He had become one of the thousands of unemployed youths in the country. Emeka was doggedly determined to make it in life so he out­ rightly refused to allow himself to be pitied. He asked for help from some of his friends in order to rent a shop in which he would sell car spare parts. Out of the sales, he helped his mother take care of his younger brothers. As a matter of fact, he was doing quite well but unfortunately, everything was gone. It seemed that this major incident had sapped all of his strength to carry on. His future seemed to have become bleak. Lamenting his woes, he cried out. "O God! Why me? Why me?
His very good friend Eze tried to console him and encourage him to carry on assuring him that behind every dark cloud there is always a silver lining. Emeka took up the courage and picked up the pieces of his life once again.
One Monday afternoon, about two weeks after the inci­dent, a letter came to him. He wondered who could have sent it. He read the letter and found out that it was a job offer from a renowned bank in the country to become the manager of one of their branches in Lagos. He did not know how he was chosen for the job but he remembered that he had gone there for an interview. He was told to start the job with imme­diate effect. He was also given an official car and an apartment. Now it seemed as if fate was compensating him for all he had lost and he could do nothing but thank God over and over again for blessing him so. Words were not enough to express his joy and he remem­bered Eze's statement that every cloud has a silver lining. And that was exactly what happened to him.

Emeka started a spare parts shop because

Reading Passage: Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
Directions: Read the passage carefully:
Once more, fate dealt him another fatal blow. His spare parts shop in the market had been glutted by fire. Everything he worked for, his sweat, his source of livelihood, all gone. What was he to do now? Who  would he turn to for help?
In his two room apartment, he sat quietly and remem­bered how at the age of sixteen his father died, leaving behind his mother, himself and his five younger brothers. He was at that age, in grade five, a brilliant student with a dream of becoming a successful accountant. But now he had to shoul­der the responsibility of taking care of his younger brothers while going to school.
Life was hard on him. Everyday, he would wake up as early as four o'clock to help his mother in domestic chores and preparing his younger brothers for school. At seven o' clock, he would start off for school. Hoping and praying for the best for his mother in her sales. She sold  food stuff at the local market and from the proceeds she paid her sons’ school fees and provided for their basic needs. But this was hardly enough as sometimes, they would have to go without food and in tattered clothes. Emeka was not discouraged in his efforts to study hard and came out in flying colours. He strove constantly to keep his will strong for he knew that where there is a will there is always a way.
He waded through secondary school and obtained a high grade in his final exams. With this, he hoped to gain admission into the university which he did. This also meant that his mother would have to spend more money on his tuition fees and feeding. He knew that the burden on his mother would be too great. So, he decided to take the burden on himself and look for a part time job out of which he was able to fend for himself. He found a job as a waiter in an eatery in the university premises. He would start work at 4 a.m. and close at 10.00 p.m. This was no easy task but somehow he endured the hardship considering it as a training ground, and hoping that one day fate would be merciful to him.
Emeka studied real hard for his final exams and came out with a second class upper degree. He hoped he would be able to obtain a job with this but was bitterly disappointed as virtually no firm was willing to give him a job. He had become one of the thousands of unemployed youths in the country. Emeka was doggedly determined to make it in life so he out­ rightly refused to allow himself to be pitied. He asked for help from some of his friends in order to rent a shop in which he would sell car spare parts. Out of the sales, he helped his mother take care of his younger brothers. As a matter of fact, he was doing quite well but unfortunately, everything was gone. It seemed that this major incident had sapped all of his strength to carry on. His future seemed to have become bleak. Lamenting his woes, he cried out. "O God! Why me? Why me?
His very good friend Eze tried to console him and encourage him to carry on assuring him that behind every dark cloud there is always a silver lining. Emeka took up the courage and picked up the pieces of his life once again.
One Monday afternoon, about two weeks after the inci­dent, a letter came to him. He wondered who could have sent it. He read the letter and found out that it was a job offer from a renowned bank in the country to become the manager of one of their branches in Lagos. He did not know how he was chosen for the job but he remembered that he had gone there for an interview. He was told to start the job with imme­diate effect. He was also given an official car and an apartment. Now it seemed as if fate was compensating him for all he had lost and he could do nothing but thank God over and over again for blessing him so. Words were not enough to express his joy and he remem­bered Eze's statement that every cloud has a silver lining. And that was exactly what happened to him.

How does the passage proceed, as far as its construction is concerned?

Directions: Read the following passages and answer the question that follows:

PASSAGE – I

Words of warning are already being voiced. The incidence of infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) it causes could be set to explode in India and China, the world's two most populous countries. China and India stand on the brink of widespread epidemics, as HIV spreads from groups at high risk to the broader population, observed a recent report. The current low prevalence rates are deceptive. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) puts the prevalence of HIV among adults in India at less than one per cent, compared to nine per cent in sub-Saharan Africa, currently the worst affected region in the world. On the other hand, India stands second only to South Africa in the number of HIV-infected people. Worse still, there are reports that HIV infections are spreading twice as fast in South Asia as in sub-Saharan Africa.

There are fears that India (and South Asia) could go the sub-Saharan way. India shares some of the same risk factors as Africa, including a similar pattern of health expenditure, an uneven health infrastructure and prevalent high risk sexual behaviour.

The African experience shows what high levels of HIV in a society mean in everyday terms. According to UNAIDS, average life expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa is now 47 years, when it would have been 62 years without AIDS. Loss of income and mounting medical expenses push HIV/AIDS affected families deeper into poverty, stripping assets from the already impoverished. As parents die, the care and upbringing of children, who might themselves be infected with HIV, become major social problems. By affecting those in the prime of their lives, HIV/AIDS has a severe impact on national economies. The rate of economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa is believed to have reduced by two to four per cent as a result of AIDS.

There is as yet no effective cure which can remove the virus entirely from the body of an infected person or a vaccine which can prevent infection. But as the Global HIV Prevention Working Group said in a recent report, a massive expansion of the HIV/AIDS epidemic was not inevitable and could be reversed if proven prevention techniques were used in combination and on a sufficient scale. In India, sexual contact is the primary route through which HIV spreads. Prevention requires awareness among the public of risky sexual behaviour combined with ways to avoid such risks. As in many other tradition-bound societies, open discussion of sexual issues is often problematic in India.

The myths and realities around sex and sexuality issues in India are similar to those that exist across the world. Young people should be encouraged and provided information to make informed choices to protect themselves from infection. Inadequate funding for AIDS prevention work is a global problem. The Global HIV Prevention Working Group estimated that the funding gap in Asia and the Pacific was about $1.48 billion. While what India currently invests on AIDS prevention is much less than needed, no estimate on the extent of this deficit seems readily available. Implementation of a comprehensive prevention package can more than halve the total number of HIV infections. One-third of this global reduction would benefit two countries — India and China. But the experts also warned that delayed implementation of the prevention package would lead to large reductions in the infections prevented. India has a window of opportunity — but it may not remain open for long.

What is the central idea of the passage?

Directions: Read the following passages and answer the question that follows:

PASSAGE – I

Words of warning are already being voiced. The incidence of infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) it causes could be set to explode in India and China, the world's two most populous countries. China and India stand on the brink of widespread epidemics, as HIV spreads from groups at high risk to the broader population, observed a recent report. The current low prevalence rates are deceptive. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) puts the prevalence of HIV among adults in India at less than one per cent, compared to nine per cent in sub-Saharan Africa, currently the worst affected region in the world. On the other hand, India stands second only to South Africa in the number of HIV-infected people. Worse still, there are reports that HIV infections are spreading twice as fast in South Asia as in sub-Saharan Africa.

There are fears that India (and South Asia) could go the sub-Saharan way. India shares some of the same risk factors as Africa, including a similar pattern of health expenditure, an uneven health infrastructure and prevalent high risk sexual behaviour.

The African experience shows what high levels of HIV in a society mean in everyday terms. According to UNAIDS, average life expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa is now 47 years, when it would have been 62 years without AIDS. Loss of income and mounting medical expenses push HIV/AIDS affected families deeper into poverty, stripping assets from the already impoverished. As parents die, the care and upbringing of children, who might themselves be infected with HIV, become major social problems. By affecting those in the prime of their lives, HIV/AIDS has a severe impact on national economies. The rate of economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa is believed to have reduced by two to four per cent as a result of AIDS.

There is as yet no effective cure which can remove the virus entirely from the body of an infected person or a vaccine which can prevent infection. But as the Global HIV Prevention Working Group said in a recent report, a massive expansion of the HIV/AIDS epidemic was not inevitable and could be reversed if proven prevention techniques were used in combination and on a sufficient scale. In India, sexual contact is the primary route through which HIV spreads. Prevention requires awareness among the public of risky sexual behaviour combined with ways to avoid such risks. As in many other tradition-bound societies, open discussion of sexual issues is often problematic in India.

The myths and realities around sex and sexuality issues in India are similar to those that exist across the world. Young people should be encouraged and provided information to make informed choices to protect themselves from infection. Inadequate funding for AIDS prevention work is a global problem. The Global HIV Prevention Working Group estimated that the funding gap in Asia and the Pacific was about $1.48 billion. While what India currently invests on AIDS prevention is much less than needed, no estimate on the extent of this deficit seems readily available. Implementation of a comprehensive prevention package can more than halve the total number of HIV infections. One-third of this global reduction would benefit two countries — India and China. But the experts also warned that delayed implementation of the prevention package would lead to large reductions in the infections prevented. India has a window of opportunity — but it may not remain open for long.

Which of the following can be inferred from the passage? I. High risk sexual behavior and uneven health infrastructures are risk factors similar to both Indian and Africa. II. In India and China sexual contact is the primary route through which HIV spreads. III. Increase in the level of HIV cases in society is inversely proportional to the average life expectancy.

Directions: Read the following passages and answer the question that follows:

PASSAGE – I

Words of warning are already being voiced. The incidence of infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) it causes could be set to explode in India and China, the world's two most populous countries. China and India stand on the brink of widespread epidemics, as HIV spreads from groups at high risk to the broader population, observed a recent report. The current low prevalence rates are deceptive. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) puts the prevalence of HIV among adults in India at less than one per cent, compared to nine per cent in sub-Saharan Africa, currently the worst affected region in the world. On the other hand, India stands second only to South Africa in the number of HIV-infected people. Worse still, there are reports that HIV infections are spreading twice as fast in South Asia as in sub-Saharan Africa.

There are fears that India (and South Asia) could go the sub-Saharan way. India shares some of the same risk factors as Africa, including a similar pattern of health expenditure, an uneven health infrastructure and prevalent high risk sexual behaviour.

The African experience shows what high levels of HIV in a society mean in everyday terms. According to UNAIDS, average life expectancy in sub-Saharan Africa is now 47 years, when it would have been 62 years without AIDS. Loss of income and mounting medical expenses push HIV/AIDS affected families deeper into poverty, stripping assets from the already impoverished. As parents die, the care and upbringing of children, who might themselves be infected with HIV, become major social problems. By affecting those in the prime of their lives, HIV/AIDS has a severe impact on national economies. The rate of economic growth in sub-Saharan Africa is believed to have reduced by two to four per cent as a result of AIDS.

There is as yet no effective cure which can remove the virus entirely from the body of an infected person or a vaccine which can prevent infection. But as the Global HIV Prevention Working Group said in a recent report, a massive expansion of the HIV/AIDS epidemic was not inevitable and could be reversed if proven prevention techniques were used in combination and on a sufficient scale. In India, sexual contact is the primary route through which HIV spreads. Prevention requires awareness among the public of risky sexual behaviour combined with ways to avoid such risks. As in many other tradition-bound societies, open discussion of sexual issues is often problematic in India.

The myths and realities around sex and sexuality issues in India are similar to those that exist across the world. Young people should be encouraged and provided information to make informed choices to protect themselves from infection. Inadequate funding for AIDS prevention work is a global problem. The Global HIV Prevention Working Group estimated that the funding gap in Asia and the Pacific was about $1.48 billion. While what India currently invests on AIDS prevention is much less than needed, no estimate on the extent of this deficit seems readily available. Implementation of a comprehensive prevention package can more than halve the total number of HIV infections. One-third of this global reduction would benefit two countries — India and China. But the experts also warned that delayed implementation of the prevention package would lead to large reductions in the infections prevented. India has a window of opportunity — but it may not remain open for long.

What is the primary purpose of the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage and then answer the question that follows:

PASSAGE – III

The broad consensus that emerged at the Inter-State Council meeting over what is arguably the Constitution's most contentious provision — Article 356 — is a most welcome thing. The spirit of cooperative federalism has raised the hope of a constitutional amendment that will build safeguards into this emergency provision to prevent its misuse. Article 356 gives the Centre the power to take over the functions of a State Government in the event of a failure of the constitutional machinery in that State. However, the history of its use clearly reveals that it was invoked more often to fix politically inconvenient State Governments, precipitate fresh elections and for other reasons that have no relevance to the purpose of the Article.

In recent years, the judgment in the Bommai case has served as a salutary check — and indeed bar — against such misuse. The Court's ruling that the Centre cannot dissolve State legislatures unless the proclamation under Article 356 (1) is approved by the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha has served as an effective restraint during a period when no party or combination of parties has enjoyed a majority in both Houses of Parliament. This pronouncement has deterred the use of the Article for narrow, political ends. Between 1950 and 1994, when the Bommai judgment was delivered, Article 356 was used on more than 90 occasions. In many cases, State Governments were dismissed even when they enjoyed a majority in the Assembly and in other cases, without being given an opportunity to prove their strength on the floor of the House.

Among other things, such an amendment must ensure that, if used at all, the recourse to Article 356 must be a last resort — one that is embraced after exhausting the options provided by other Articles in the Constitution such as 256, 257 and, more importantly, 355. The suggestion that the Governor's report recommending President's Rule should be in the nature of a speaking order is virtually identical to the recommendation made by the NCRWC. This was that such a report should contain a precise and clear statement of all the material facts and grounds, on the basis of which the President may satisfy himself as to the existence or otherwise of the situation contemplated in Article 356. Like some other emergency provisions in the Constitution, Article 356 was introduced as an extraordinary safeguard, not something that is invoked in non-extreme circumstances. During the Constituent Assembly debates, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar even hoped it would be a dead letter, something that would never be called into operation. The purpose of the proposed constitutional amendment should be to ensure that this democratic vision of cooperative federalism comes true, however late in the day.

Which of the following cannot be concluded from the passage?

1. the single directive inclusion in the CVC Bill was permitted by the judiciary
2. an earlier attempt to include the single directive into the CVC Bill was thwarted by the judiciary
3. inclusion of the single directive has been unanimously supported by both the houses of the Parliament

Directions: Read the following passage and then answer the question that follows:

PASSAGE – II

There was some fierce criticism of the Central Vigilance Commission Bill before it was passed in the Rajya Sabha, thus paving the way for its enactment. Unfortunately, there was not enough. More than one provision in the Bill — which gives the office of the CVC a statutory status and broad superintendence over the Central Bureau of Investigation — may deserve to be critically examined. The introduction of one clause deserves to be roundly condemned. What Section 6A does is to restore the so-called `Single Directive', an iniquitous rule or guideline that was explicitly and unambiguously quashed by the Supreme Court. Under the Single Directive, it was mandatory for the CBI to secure the prior approval of the Central Government before launching an investigation into a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act if the allegations related to an official of the rank of Joint Secretary or higher. The Supreme Court in the Vineet Narain/Jain hawala judgment of 1997 struck down the Directive. Every person accused of committing the same offence is to be dealt with in the same manner..., the Court had observed when striking down the Directive.

Against this background, the very presence of section 6A in the CVC Bill is mischievous. It is particularly shocking when one considers that an earlier bid to smuggle the Directive into the CVC ordinance had met with grave judicial disapproval. This eventually resulted in the ordinance being amended, with the offending provision thrown out. It is mystifying why, having been bitten once, the Government is not shy of daring the Supreme Court again. What the resurfacing of the Directive suggests is that, when it comes to issues where it has a vested interest, the higher bureaucracy can exercise an extraordinary influence over its political masters.

The much bigger issue of course is that the Directive can be, and has been, used to stymie the investigation of corruption cases. Since some of these cases involve a conspiratorial nexus between bureaucrats and politicians, many politicians clearly have a vested interest in keeping the Directive alive. The cynical manner in which such self-serving legal protection is perceived was evident during the debate on the CVC Bill. One of the issues discussed was this: when such protection existed for bureaucrats, why was there no such cover for MPs? The Supreme Court struck down the Directive on the grounds that it was discriminatory and that there was no reasonable basis for distinguishing between decision-making officers and other bureaucrats for the purpose of investigating an offence for which they were accused. After the Bill is formally enacted, it is virtually certain that the Directive will be challenged in Court. It never pays to speculate about the workings of the judicial mind, but there will be no surprise if the Directive is struck down, if the Government is taken sternly to task, and if the Court has the last laugh.

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows. Would you believe that the first outstanding deaf teacher in America was a Frenchman? His name was Laurent Clerc. He became a friend of Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet and together they founded America's first school for the deaf. At the age of 12, Laurent entered the Royal Institution for the Deaf in Paris where he excelled in his studies. After he graduated, the school asked him to stay on as an assistant teacher. He was a dedicated teacher; and consequently, was promoted to teach the highest class. Meanwhile, in America, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet was studying to be a minister when he met a young deaf girl, Alice Cogswell. He was upset to learn that there were no schools for the deaf in America. He was very concerned about the lack of educational opportunities for the deaf. Therefore, in 1815, Gallaudet sailed to London, England to seek ideas on how to teach deaf people. However, he was unable to get help and he became frustrated. While he was there, he met a French educator of the deaf who invited him to go to Paris to spend three months learning at the Royal Institution for the Deaf, the school where Laurent Clerc was teaching. Gallaudet accepted the offer, and went to the Royal Institution for the Deaf, where Clerc became his Sign Language teacher. At the school, Clerc led a busy life. He taught signs to Principal Gallaudet; he taught the pupils; and he taught hearing men who came to the school to study deaf education. At that time, the state would only pay for each student to stay at the school for five years. Therefore, Clerc had to teach his pupils as much as he could as quickly as possible.

How could the main idea of this passage be best stated?