English Reading Comprehension

Fill blank (v).

Directions: Read the passage and fill in the blank with the appropriate word out of the given.

A great part of Arabia is desert. Here there is nothing       (i)      sand and rock. The sand is so hot that you cannot walk over it with your       (ii)      feet in the daytime. Here and there in the desert are springs of water that come from deep down under the ground, so deep that sun cannot dry them up. These springs are _(iii)_ and far apart, but wherever there is one, green grass very soon covers the ground all around it. Soon fig trees and palm trees grow tall and graceful, making a cool, green,       (iv)      place around the spring. Such a place is called an      (v)     . The Arabs who are not in the cities live in the desert all the year round. They live in tents that can be put up and       (vi)     ­­ very easily and quickly so that they can move from one oasis to another, seeking grass and water for their sheep, goats, camels and horses. These desert Arabs eat ripe sweet figs, and also the dates that grow      (vii)      the palm trees; they dry them too and use them as food all the year round. The Arabs have the finest horses in the world. An Arab is very      (viii)      of his riding horse and loves his wife and children. He      (ix)      puts heavy loads upon his horse and often lets him stay in the tent with his family. The camel is much more      (x)      to the Arab than his beautiful horse, however, for he is much larger and stronger. The Arab loads the camel with goods and rides him too, for miles and miles across the desert, just as if he were really the ''Ship of the Desert'', which he is often called.

Fill in the blank by choosing the appropriate word from the passage. If you kick your little brother in the shin and feel a strange sense of enjoyment as you watch him cry, you are being ______.

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question.

In the modern world, sports have assumed a very horrible shape and form. They play a very wild, savage and dangerous role. There is cut-throat competition in almost all the games and sports played today. Every player plays to win. Victory by hook or crook is the be-all and end-all of every sport. Some of the rural sports give vent to animal passions and involve a lot of cruelty to animals. Rural folk enjoy the pleasure of fishing, cock fighting, bear-baiting and rat-hunting. In the Middle ages, games were played in a very brutal and cruel manner. In a big town, only group activities provide an outlet to a person's surplus energy and animal passions. Organized games flourish in urban areas. Modern sporting contests and competitions provide sadistic pleasure by causing pain to others. To a great extent, George Orwell is right when he relates animal like psyche with the modern, competitive sports. Players turn into devils. They make every possible effort to hit, wound and maim the opponents. It is wrong to believe that international sporting competitions promote friendship and good will. On the other hand, they create hatred, bitterness, hostility and revenge. For a time, it seems that running, jumping and kicking a ball are the tests of national character. Brutal is the behavior of the players. Wild is the attitude of the spectators, and shocking is the behavior of the nations behind the spectators.

Fill blank (ix).

Directions: Read the passage and fill in the blank with the appropriate word out of the given.

A great part of Arabia is desert. Here there is nothing       (i)      sand and rock. The sand is so hot that you cannot walk over it with your       (ii)      feet in the daytime. Here and there in the desert are springs of water that come from deep down under the ground, so deep that sun cannot dry them up. These springs are _(iii)_ and far apart, but wherever there is one, green grass very soon covers the ground all around it. Soon fig trees and palm trees grow tall and graceful, making a cool, green,       (iv)      place around the spring. Such a place is called an      (v)     . The Arabs who are not in the cities live in the desert all the year round. They live in tents that can be put up and       (vi)     ­­ very easily and quickly so that they can move from one oasis to another, seeking grass and water for their sheep, goats, camels and horses. These desert Arabs eat ripe sweet figs, and also the dates that grow      (vii)      the palm trees; they dry them too and use them as food all the year round. The Arabs have the finest horses in the world. An Arab is very      (viii)      of his riding horse and loves his wife and children. He      (ix)      puts heavy loads upon his horse and often lets him stay in the tent with his family. The camel is much more      (x)      to the Arab than his beautiful horse, however, for he is much larger and stronger. The Arab loads the camel with goods and rides him too, for miles and miles across the desert, just as if he were really the ''Ship of the Desert'', which he is often called.

Fill blank (vi).

Directions: Read the passage and fill in the blank with the appropriate word out of the given.

A great part of Arabia is desert. Here there is nothing       (i)      sand and rock. The sand is so hot that you cannot walk over it with your       (ii)      feet in the daytime. Here and there in the desert are springs of water that come from deep down under the ground, so deep that sun cannot dry them up. These springs are _(iii)_ and far apart, but wherever there is one, green grass very soon covers the ground all around it. Soon fig trees and palm trees grow tall and graceful, making a cool, green,       (iv)      place around the spring. Such a place is called an      (v)     . The Arabs who are not in the cities live in the desert all the year round. They live in tents that can be put up and       (vi)     ­­ very easily and quickly so that they can move from one oasis to another, seeking grass and water for their sheep, goats, camels and horses. These desert Arabs eat ripe sweet figs, and also the dates that grow      (vii)      the palm trees; they dry them too and use them as food all the year round. The Arabs have the finest horses in the world. An Arab is very      (viii)      of his riding horse and loves his wife and children. He      (ix)      puts heavy loads upon his horse and often lets him stay in the tent with his family. The camel is much more      (x)      to the Arab than his beautiful horse, however, for he is much larger and stronger. The Arab loads the camel with goods and rides him too, for miles and miles across the desert, just as if he were really the ''Ship of the Desert'', which he is often called.

What does the writer mean when he says, 'Players turn into devils'.

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question.

In the modern world, sports have assumed a very horrible shape and form. They play a very wild, savage and dangerous role. There is cut-throat competition in almost all the games and sports played today. Every player plays to win. Victory by hook or crook is the be-all and end-all of every sport. Some of the rural sports give vent to animal passions and involve a lot of cruelty to animals. Rural folk enjoy the pleasure of fishing, cock fighting, bear-baiting and rat-hunting. In the Middle ages, games were played in a very brutal and cruel manner. In a big town, only group activities provide an outlet to a person's surplus energy and animal passions. Organized games flourish in urban areas. Modern sporting contests and competitions provide sadistic pleasure by causing pain to others. To a great extent, George Orwell is right when he relates animal like psyche with the modern, competitive sports. Players turn into devils. They make every possible effort to hit, wound and maim the opponents. It is wrong to believe that international sporting competitions promote friendship and good will. On the other hand, they create hatred, bitterness, hostility and revenge. For a time, it seems that running, jumping and kicking a ball are the tests of national character. Brutal is the behavior of the players. Wild is the attitude of the spectators, and shocking is the behavior of the nations behind the spectators.

What is the style of the writer in the passage?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question.

In the modern world, sports have assumed a very horrible shape and form. They play a very wild, savage and dangerous role. There is cut-throat competition in almost all the games and sports played today. Every player plays to win. Victory by hook or crook is the be-all and end-all of every sport. Some of the rural sports give vent to animal passions and involve a lot of cruelty to animals. Rural folk enjoy the pleasure of fishing, cock fighting, bear-baiting and rat-hunting. In the Middle ages, games were played in a very brutal and cruel manner. In a big town, only group activities provide an outlet to a person's surplus energy and animal passions. Organized games flourish in urban areas. Modern sporting contests and competitions provide sadistic pleasure by causing pain to others. To a great extent, George Orwell is right when he relates animal like psyche with the modern, competitive sports. Players turn into devils. They make every possible effort to hit, wound and maim the opponents. It is wrong to believe that international sporting competitions promote friendship and good will. On the other hand, they create hatred, bitterness, hostility and revenge. For a time, it seems that running, jumping and kicking a ball are the tests of national character. Brutal is the behavior of the players. Wild is the attitude of the spectators, and shocking is the behavior of the nations behind the spectators.

Fill blank (iii).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Many people have sacrificed their lives to ___(i)___ the thirst for knowledge and to satisfy their ___(ii)___. In the olden days people used to worship sun and moon thinking them to be ___(iii)___ heav­enly bodies. But the scientific investigation had ___(iv)___ that sun is an ordinary star and earth is a planet like other planets. After this, man entered the age of the space travel. The invention of rocket was the first step in space travel. Scientists had already ___(v)___ that there was neither air nor water on the moon. The moon was the first ___(vi)___ of man. A spaceship travel­ling at a speed of 4000 kms per hour can ___(vii)___ this distance in 10 hours. The scientists had ___(viii)___ discovered that the surface of moon was rough and full of craters, rocks and mountains. Scientists now are trying to find out whether there is life on Mars and they are planning to ___(ix)___ it also. Many centuries after that space travel would be taken as an ___(x)___ by the rich people of the world who can afford a huge amount for satiating their whims.

Fill blank (x).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Many people have sacrificed their lives to ___(i)___ the thirst for knowledge and to satisfy their ___(ii)___. In the olden days people used to worship sun and moon thinking them to be ___(iii)___ heav­enly bodies. But the scientific investigation had ___(iv)___ that sun is an ordinary star and earth is a planet like other planets. After this, man entered the age of the space travel. The invention of rocket was the first step in space travel. Scientists had already ___(v)___ that there was neither air nor water on the moon. The moon was the first ___(vi)___ of man. A spaceship travel­ling at a speed of 4000 kms per hour can ___(vii)___ this distance in 10 hours. The scientists had ___(viii)___ discovered that the surface of moon was rough and full of craters, rocks and mountains. Scientists now are trying to find out whether there is life on Mars and they are planning to ___(ix)___ it also. Many centuries after that space travel would be taken as an ___(x)___ by the rich people of the world who can afford a huge amount for satiating their whims.

Fill blank (vi).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Many people have sacrificed their lives to ___(i)___ the thirst for knowledge and to satisfy their ___(ii)___. In the olden days people used to worship sun and moon thinking them to be ___(iii)___ heav­enly bodies. But the scientific investigation had ___(iv)___ that sun is an ordinary star and earth is a planet like other planets. After this, man entered the age of the space travel. The invention of rocket was the first step in space travel. Scientists had already ___(v)___ that there was neither air nor water on the moon. The moon was the first ___(vi)___ of man. A spaceship travel­ling at a speed of 4000 kms per hour can ___(vii)___ this distance in 10 hours. The scientists had ___(viii)___ discovered that the surface of moon was rough and full of craters, rocks and mountains. Scientists now are trying to find out whether there is life on Mars and they are planning to ___(ix)___ it also. Many centuries after that space travel would be taken as an ___(x)___ by the rich people of the world who can afford a huge amount for satiating their whims.

Fill blank (ii).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Many people have sacrificed their lives to ___(i)___ the thirst for knowledge and to satisfy their ___(ii)___. In the olden days people used to worship sun and moon thinking them to be ___(iii)___ heav­enly bodies. But the scientific investigation had ___(iv)___ that sun is an ordinary star and earth is a planet like other planets. After this, man entered the age of the space travel. The invention of rocket was the first step in space travel. Scientists had already ___(v)___ that there was neither air nor water on the moon. The moon was the first ___(vi)___ of man. A spaceship travel­ling at a speed of 4000 kms per hour can ___(vii)___ this distance in 10 hours. The scientists had ___(viii)___ discovered that the surface of moon was rough and full of craters, rocks and mountains. Scientists now are trying to find out whether there is life on Mars and they are planning to ___(ix)___ it also. Many centuries after that space travel would be taken as an ___(x)___ by the rich people of the world who can afford a huge amount for satiating their whims.

Fill blank (viii).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Many people have sacrificed their lives to ___(i)___ the thirst for knowledge and to satisfy their ___(ii)___. In the olden days people used to worship sun and moon thinking them to be ___(iii)___ heav­enly bodies. But the scientific investigation had ___(iv)___ that sun is an ordinary star and earth is a planet like other planets. After this, man entered the age of the space travel. The invention of rocket was the first step in space travel. Scientists had already ___(v)___ that there was neither air nor water on the moon. The moon was the first ___(vi)___ of man. A spaceship travel­ling at a speed of 4000 kms per hour can ___(vii)___ this distance in 10 hours. The scientists had ___(viii)___ discovered that the surface of moon was rough and full of craters, rocks and mountains. Scientists now are trying to find out whether there is life on Mars and they are planning to ___(ix)___ it also. Many centuries after that space travel would be taken as an ___(x)___ by the rich people of the world who can afford a huge amount for satiating their whims.

Fill blank (v).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Many people have sacrificed their lives to ___(i)___ the thirst for knowledge and to satisfy their ___(ii)___. In the olden days people used to worship sun and moon thinking them to be ___(iii)___ heav­enly bodies. But the scientific investigation had ___(iv)___ that sun is an ordinary star and earth is a planet like other planets. After this, man entered the age of the space travel. The invention of rocket was the first step in space travel. Scientists had already ___(v)___ that there was neither air nor water on the moon. The moon was the first ___(vi)___ of man. A spaceship travel­ling at a speed of 4000 kms per hour can ___(vii)___ this distance in 10 hours. The scientists had ___(viii)___ discovered that the surface of moon was rough and full of craters, rocks and mountains. Scientists now are trying to find out whether there is life on Mars and they are planning to ___(ix)___ it also. Many centuries after that space travel would be taken as an ___(x)___ by the rich people of the world who can afford a huge amount for satiating their whims.

Fill blank (vii).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Many people have sacrificed their lives to ___(i)___ the thirst for knowledge and to satisfy their ___(ii)___. In the olden days people used to worship sun and moon thinking them to be ___(iii)___ heav­enly bodies. But the scientific investigation had ___(iv)___ that sun is an ordinary star and earth is a planet like other planets. After this, man entered the age of the space travel. The invention of rocket was the first step in space travel. Scientists had already ___(v)___ that there was neither air nor water on the moon. The moon was the first ___(vi)___ of man. A spaceship travel­ling at a speed of 4000 kms per hour can ___(vii)___ this distance in 10 hours. The scientists had ___(viii)___ discovered that the surface of moon was rough and full of craters, rocks and mountains. Scientists now are trying to find out whether there is life on Mars and they are planning to ___(ix)___ it also. Many centuries after that space travel would be taken as an ___(x)___ by the rich people of the world who can afford a huge amount for satiating their whims.

Fill blank (iv).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Many people have sacrificed their lives to ___(i)___ the thirst for knowledge and to satisfy their ___(ii)___. In the olden days people used to worship sun and moon thinking them to be ___(iii)___ heav­enly bodies. But the scientific investigation had ___(iv)___ that sun is an ordinary star and earth is a planet like other planets. After this, man entered the age of the space travel. The invention of rocket was the first step in space travel. Scientists had already ___(v)___ that there was neither air nor water on the moon. The moon was the first ___(vi)___ of man. A spaceship travel­ling at a speed of 4000 kms per hour can ___(vii)___ this distance in 10 hours. The scientists had ___(viii)___ discovered that the surface of moon was rough and full of craters, rocks and mountains. Scientists now are trying to find out whether there is life on Mars and they are planning to ___(ix)___ it also. Many centuries after that space travel would be taken as an ___(x)___ by the rich people of the world who can afford a huge amount for satiating their whims.

Fill blank (i).

Directions: Read the following passage having some numbered blanks.

Many people have sacrificed their lives to ___(i)___ the thirst for knowledge and to satisfy their ___(ii)___. In the olden days people used to worship sun and moon thinking them to be ___(iii)___ heav­enly bodies. But the scientific investigation had ___(iv)___ that sun is an ordinary star and earth is a planet like other planets. After this, man entered the age of the space travel. The invention of rocket was the first step in space travel. Scientists had already ___(v)___ that there was neither air nor water on the moon. The moon was the first ___(vi)___ of man. A spaceship travel­ling at a speed of 4000 kms per hour can ___(vii)___ this distance in 10 hours. The scientists had ___(viii)___ discovered that the surface of moon was rough and full of craters, rocks and mountains. Scientists now are trying to find out whether there is life on Mars and they are planning to ___(ix)___ it also. Many centuries after that space travel would be taken as an ___(x)___ by the rich people of the world who can afford a huge amount for satiating their whims.