Reading Comprehension

What is the source of origin of drug addiction in India?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

Drug Addiction is one of the serious problems of the present times. Narcotics like heroin, hashish, and brown-sugar are commonly called drugs and young men and women either take these drugs orally or inhale their smoke.

Sociologist says that drug addiction is an addiction which has come to India and other oriental countries from the western countries. The Indians are aping the west and becoming drug-addicts. In the modern society, there are several family-problems. The lack of love and affection forces youths to get addicted to drugs. Sometimes, the pressure of addicted friends tempts the youth to become an addict.

Psychologists say that drugs help the addict to escape from the strains and problems of the world. But they damage the nervous system tremendously and shatter the mental make-up of the addicts. It even causes death. Even if the addict gives up taking drugs suddenly, he may die. So, withdrawal must be done gradually.

Drug addicts must be treated with love and kindness. The society should take strong measures to control dishonest businessmen and drug-traffickers. There are laws of drug-control all over the world, yet drug addiction is increasing gradually. What is needed is an anti-drugs consciousness among the youth of the different countries.

What can be the cause of drug addiction?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

Drug Addiction is one of the serious problems of the present times. Narcotics like heroin, hashish, and brown-sugar are commonly called drugs and young men and women either take these drugs orally or inhale their smoke.

Sociologist says that drug addiction is an addiction which has come to India and other oriental countries from the western countries. The Indians are aping the west and becoming drug-addicts. In the modern society, there are several family-problems. The lack of love and affection forces youths to get addicted to drugs. Sometimes, the pressure of addicted friends tempts the youth to become an addict.

Psychologists say that drugs help the addict to escape from the strains and problems of the world. But they damage the nervous system tremendously and shatter the mental make-up of the addicts. It even causes death. Even if the addict gives up taking drugs suddenly, he may die. So, withdrawal must be done gradually.

Drug addicts must be treated with love and kindness. The society should take strong measures to control dishonest businessmen and drug-traffickers. There are laws of drug-control all over the world, yet drug addiction is increasing gradually. What is needed is an anti-drugs consciousness among the youth of the different countries.

What is the meaning of endangered species according to the passage?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the following question:

When an animal disappears totally from the surface of the Earth, we say that it has become extinct. Dinosaurs used to roam this planet till the last one died millions of years ago. The dodo bird, which used to live in Mauritius, died out in 1681 when pigs destroyed their eggs and their young.
Today, many animals are faced with extinction. The Californian condor, a majestic bird, and the Siberian tiger are two such animals. Certain kinds of woodpeckers and alligators are also on the endangered list. Some of these animals are decreasing in number, because people have been hunting them down for their fur and skin. Others were killed in large numbers in the past, because they posed a danger to human life.

Directions: Choose the correct option a, b or c.

What is the best title for the above passage-

Directions: Reading passage : Gold vs Sensex
Gold emerged as the saviour for investors worldwide in a year when all the asset classes failed to deliver. Its prices are expected to remain strong in 2009. Investment in gold through Exchange-traded funds (ETF’s) generated an average one year return of 27 percent as compared to the 53 percent fall in the Sensex during the year.
Experts feel that 2009 will continue to see strong gold prices. There is no certainty of how long the economic turmoil will prevail. Till that time the prices will remain strong according to the World Gold Council. In the coming year gold will range between 11,450 to Rs. 15,200 per 10 gm. According to the Angel Commodities.
As the global weakness continues, central banks see gold as a safe heaven. With interest rates moving towards a zero-rate regime, Investment in currency will drop, lending more sheen to the yellow metal. We expect a fall in gold production by 5 percent in 2009 and with demand rising , the prices should rise by Rs. 15,000 to 16,000 per 10 gm.
Gold prices though look pretty at higher levels but still it propose an opportunity for investment. While the traditional forms of gold investment like Jewellery, gold bars and coins exist, gold ETF’s emerge as the most attractive form of investment. Investors can invest a maximum of 10 percent of their portfolio into gold.
Different reasons has been seen why the gold will remain strong. Keeping gold demand high and prices stiff. Globally the interest rates are declining. Coupled with high demand this would keep prices high.

Directions: Choose the correct option a, b or c.

ETF generated an average return of

Directions: Reading passage : Gold vs Sensex
Gold emerged as the saviour for investors worldwide in a year when all the asset classes failed to deliver. Its prices are expected to remain strong in 2009. Investment in gold through Exchange-traded funds (ETF’s) generated an average one year return of 27 percent as compared to the 53 percent fall in the Sensex during the year.
Experts feel that 2009 will continue to see strong gold prices. There is no certainty of how long the economic turmoil will prevail. Till that time the prices will remain strong according to the World Gold Council. In the coming year gold will range between 11,450 to Rs. 15,200 per 10 gm. According to the Angel Commodities.
As the global weakness continues, central banks see gold as a safe heaven. With interest rates moving towards a zero-rate regime, Investment in currency will drop, lending more sheen to the yellow metal. We expect a fall in gold production by 5 percent in 2009 and with demand rising , the prices should rise by Rs. 15,000 to 16,000 per 10 gm.
Gold prices though look pretty at higher levels but still it propose an opportunity for investment. While the traditional forms of gold investment like Jewellery, gold bars and coins exist, gold ETF’s emerge as the most attractive form of investment. Investors can invest a maximum of 10 percent of their portfolio into gold.
Different reasons has been seen why the gold will remain strong. Keeping gold demand high and prices stiff. Globally the interest rates are declining. Coupled with high demand this would keep prices high.

Directions: Choose the correct option a, b or c.

Gold is expected to be string in

Directions: Reading passage : Gold vs Sensex
Gold emerged as the saviour for investors worldwide in a year when all the asset classes failed to deliver. Its prices are expected to remain strong in 2009. Investment in gold through Exchange-traded funds (ETF’s) generated an average one year return of 27 percent as compared to the 53 percent fall in the Sensex during the year.
Experts feel that 2009 will continue to see strong gold prices. There is no certainty of how long the economic turmoil will prevail. Till that time the prices will remain strong according to the World Gold Council. In the coming year gold will range between 11,450 to Rs. 15,200 per 10 gm. According to the Angel Commodities.
As the global weakness continues, central banks see gold as a safe heaven. With interest rates moving towards a zero-rate regime, Investment in currency will drop, lending more sheen to the yellow metal. We expect a fall in gold production by 5 percent in 2009 and with demand rising , the prices should rise by Rs. 15,000 to 16,000 per 10 gm.
Gold prices though look pretty at higher levels but still it propose an opportunity for investment. While the traditional forms of gold investment like Jewellery, gold bars and coins exist, gold ETF’s emerge as the most attractive form of investment. Investors can invest a maximum of 10 percent of their portfolio into gold.
Different reasons has been seen why the gold will remain strong. Keeping gold demand high and prices stiff. Globally the interest rates are declining. Coupled with high demand this would keep prices high.

In context, what is the best way to deal with sentence 5 (reproduced below)?

This may evoke an interpretation that the man is disturbed, that he attempts to find out about the secrets of his soul, to get to know himself.

Direction for questions 7 to 12: The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answers for the questions that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask you to consider organization and development. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.

 Spiritual Journey in Heart of Darkness

(1) Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad may be a narrative about colonization, revealing its drawbacks and corruption, it may also be understood as a journey into the depths of one’s psyche, if taken at a symbolic level.

(2) At the beginning of the novel, the reader is informed that Marlow is a ‘wanderer’ and was ‘not typical’ contrary to stay–at-home–minded seamen.(3) He has no home, in a psychological sense of the word.  (4) He simply “follows the sea”.  (5) This may evoke an interpretation that the man is disturbed, that he attempts to find out about the secrets of his soul, to get to know himself. (6) Since boyhood he had been interested in unexplored lands and especially in a long winding snake-like river with the “head” in the sea and “tail” plunging deeply into the land, which, as Marlow admits, “charmed” him.  (7)  This image resembles a map of a journey from the dark lands of the soul, the unconstrained, uncivilized core, which may be called a Freudian Id, towards light, that is Superego.(8)  Marlow desires to follow this path in the opposite direction to explore the depths of himself.

According to the context, which of the following is the best phrase that can be inserted at the beginning of sentence 12?

Improving Paragraph

Direction for questions 1 to 6: The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answers for the questions that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask you to consider organization and development. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.

 Dinosaurs and Man

(1) These reptiles were very different from animals we are familiar with and they went extinct millions of years ago. (2) Some seem almost like monsters.(3) They existed as proved by the fossil record.(4) The young-earth fascination with dinosaurs centers on ‘proving’ they existed with man, hence indicating their world is not ancient. (5) The next article discuses how the theory that a global flood deposited the fossil layers does not hold water.  (6) People who are familiar with paleontology or history realize that before the dinosaur fossil discoveries of the 1800s, no one had ever heard of the long lost reptiles.
(7) The first evidence comes from mythology. (8)  Yes, you read that right.  (9) Creationists have had a history through mythology, looking for references to dragons and another beasts – and another beasts - and even the Loch Ness monster – and pointing to these things as possible indicators of dinosaurs.  (10)  Only recently did many creationists start agreeing with their critics that using mythology does not help one’s scientific theories very will and some have stopped using these ‘proofs”.  (11)  Most have also abandoned using the “Loch Ness Monster” and similar frauds and urban legends as evidences. (12) As a sign of the poor dissemination of information in creationist circles, some still print these things as true. (13)  So what do young-earth creationists purport to be the evidence of dinosaurs living alongside man? (14) Even the long ago abandoned claim that human footprints were found alongside dinosaur prints in the Paluxy River bed in Texas is resurrected quite often.  (15) Both secular and Christian researchers (including many young – earthers ) have concluded these prints are not human, but dinosaur prints like the ones they are found with. (16) Some reasons that the “human” prints are not human: 1. Too far apart to be human: 2.  Most are too large: 3.  Many show claw marks, etc,; and 4.  Some of the “prints” are simply erosion patterns.

Which of the following is the best way to revise and combine the underlined portions of sentences 2 and 3 (reproduced below)?

Some seem almost like monsters. They existed as proved by the fossil record.

Improving Paragraph

Direction for questions 1 to 6: The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answers for the questions that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask you to consider organization and development. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.

 Dinosaurs and Man

(1) These reptiles were very different from animals we are familiar with and they went extinct millions of years ago. (2) Some seem almost like monsters.(3) They existed as proved by the fossil record.(4) The young-earth fascination with dinosaurs centers on ‘proving’ they existed with man, hence indicating their world is not ancient. (5) The next article discuses how the theory that a global flood deposited the fossil layers does not hold water.  (6) People who are familiar with paleontology or history realize that before the dinosaur fossil discoveries of the 1800s, no one had ever heard of the long lost reptiles.
(7) The first evidence comes from mythology. (8)  Yes, you read that right.  (9) Creationists have had a history through mythology, looking for references to dragons and another beasts – and another beasts - and even the Loch Ness monster – and pointing to these things as possible indicators of dinosaurs.  (10)  Only recently did many creationists start agreeing with their critics that using mythology does not help one’s scientific theories very will and some have stopped using these ‘proofs”.  (11)  Most have also abandoned using the “Loch Ness Monster” and similar frauds and urban legends as evidences. (12) As a sign of the poor dissemination of information in creationist circles, some still print these things as true. (13)  So what do young-earth creationists purport to be the evidence of dinosaurs living alongside man? (14) Even the long ago abandoned claim that human footprints were found alongside dinosaur prints in the Paluxy River bed in Texas is resurrected quite often.  (15) Both secular and Christian researchers (including many young – earthers ) have concluded these prints are not human, but dinosaur prints like the ones they are found with. (16) Some reasons that the “human” prints are not human: 1. Too far apart to be human: 2.  Most are too large: 3.  Many show claw marks, etc,; and 4.  Some of the “prints” are simply erosion patterns.

In context, which of the following revisions is necessary in sentence 1 (reproduced below)?

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad may be a narrative about colonization, revealing its drawbacks and corruption, it may also be understood as a journey into the depths of one's psyche, if taken at a symbolic level

Direction for questions 7 to 12: The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answers for the questions that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask you to consider organization and development. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.

 Spiritual Journey in Heart of Darkness

(1) Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad may be a narrative about colonization, revealing its drawbacks and corruption, it may also be understood as a journey into the depths of one’s psyche, if taken at a symbolic level.

(2) At the beginning of the novel, the reader is informed that Marlow is a ‘wanderer’ and was ‘not typical’ contrary to stay–at-home–minded seamen.(3) He has no home, in a psychological sense of the word.  (4) He simply “follows the sea”.  (5) This may evoke an interpretation that the man is disturbed, that he attempts to find out about the secrets of his soul, to get to know himself. (6) Since boyhood he had been interested in unexplored lands and especially in a long winding snake-like river with the “head” in the sea and “tail” plunging deeply into the land, which, as Marlow admits, “charmed” him.  (7)  This image resembles a map of a journey from the dark lands of the soul, the unconstrained, uncivilized core, which may be called a Freudian Id, towards light, that is Superego.(8)  Marlow desires to follow this path in the opposite direction to explore the depths of himself.

Which of the following should be done with sentence 13?

Improving Paragraph

Direction for questions 1 to 6: The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answers for the questions that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask you to consider organization and development. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.

 Dinosaurs and Man

(1) These reptiles were very different from animals we are familiar with and they went extinct millions of years ago. (2) Some seem almost like monsters.(3) They existed as proved by the fossil record.(4) The young-earth fascination with dinosaurs centers on ‘proving’ they existed with man, hence indicating their world is not ancient. (5) The next article discuses how the theory that a global flood deposited the fossil layers does not hold water.  (6) People who are familiar with paleontology or history realize that before the dinosaur fossil discoveries of the 1800s, no one had ever heard of the long lost reptiles.
(7) The first evidence comes from mythology. (8)  Yes, you read that right.  (9) Creationists have had a history through mythology, looking for references to dragons and another beasts – and another beasts - and even the Loch Ness monster – and pointing to these things as possible indicators of dinosaurs.  (10)  Only recently did many creationists start agreeing with their critics that using mythology does not help one’s scientific theories very will and some have stopped using these ‘proofs”.  (11)  Most have also abandoned using the “Loch Ness Monster” and similar frauds and urban legends as evidences. (12) As a sign of the poor dissemination of information in creationist circles, some still print these things as true. (13)  So what do young-earth creationists purport to be the evidence of dinosaurs living alongside man? (14) Even the long ago abandoned claim that human footprints were found alongside dinosaur prints in the Paluxy River bed in Texas is resurrected quite often.  (15) Both secular and Christian researchers (including many young – earthers ) have concluded these prints are not human, but dinosaur prints like the ones they are found with. (16) Some reasons that the “human” prints are not human: 1. Too far apart to be human: 2.  Most are too large: 3.  Many show claw marks, etc,; and 4.  Some of the “prints” are simply erosion patterns.

Which of the following, if inserted before sentence 1, would make a good introduction to the essay?

Improving Paragraph

Direction for questions 1 to 6: The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answers for the questions that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask you to consider organization and development. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.

 Dinosaurs and Man

(1) These reptiles were very different from animals we are familiar with and they went extinct millions of years ago. (2) Some seem almost like monsters.(3) They existed as proved by the fossil record.(4) The young-earth fascination with dinosaurs centers on ‘proving’ they existed with man, hence indicating their world is not ancient. (5) The next article discuses how the theory that a global flood deposited the fossil layers does not hold water.  (6) People who are familiar with paleontology or history realize that before the dinosaur fossil discoveries of the 1800s, no one had ever heard of the long lost reptiles.
(7) The first evidence comes from mythology. (8)  Yes, you read that right.  (9) Creationists have had a history through mythology, looking for references to dragons and another beasts – and another beasts - and even the Loch Ness monster – and pointing to these things as possible indicators of dinosaurs.  (10)  Only recently did many creationists start agreeing with their critics that using mythology does not help one’s scientific theories very will and some have stopped using these ‘proofs”.  (11)  Most have also abandoned using the “Loch Ness Monster” and similar frauds and urban legends as evidences. (12) As a sign of the poor dissemination of information in creationist circles, some still print these things as true. (13)  So what do young-earth creationists purport to be the evidence of dinosaurs living alongside man? (14) Even the long ago abandoned claim that human footprints were found alongside dinosaur prints in the Paluxy River bed in Texas is resurrected quite often.  (15) Both secular and Christian researchers (including many young – earthers ) have concluded these prints are not human, but dinosaur prints like the ones they are found with. (16) Some reasons that the “human” prints are not human: 1. Too far apart to be human: 2.  Most are too large: 3.  Many show claw marks, etc,; and 4.  Some of the “prints” are simply erosion patterns.

The writer’s story would be most improved if a paragraph were included on which of the following topics?

Direction for questions 7 to 12: The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answers for the questions that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask you to consider organization and development. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.

 Spiritual Journey in Heart of Darkness

(1) Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad may be a narrative about colonization, revealing its drawbacks and corruption, it may also be understood as a journey into the depths of one’s psyche, if taken at a symbolic level.

(2) At the beginning of the novel, the reader is informed that Marlow is a ‘wanderer’ and was ‘not typical’ contrary to stay–at-home–minded seamen.(3) He has no home, in a psychological sense of the word.  (4) He simply “follows the sea”.  (5) This may evoke an interpretation that the man is disturbed, that he attempts to find out about the secrets of his soul, to get to know himself. (6) Since boyhood he had been interested in unexplored lands and especially in a long winding snake-like river with the “head” in the sea and “tail” plunging deeply into the land, which, as Marlow admits, “charmed” him.  (7)  This image resembles a map of a journey from the dark lands of the soul, the unconstrained, uncivilized core, which may be called a Freudian Id, towards light, that is Superego.(8)  Marlow desires to follow this path in the opposite direction to explore the depths of himself.

In context, which of the following is the best way to revise and combine the underlined portions of sentences 10 and 11 (reproduced below)?

The light come upon the groom of London with the Roman conquest. An orderly and disciplined society has been introduced by force formed by the savages.

Direction for questions 7 to 12: The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answers for the questions that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask you to consider organization and development. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.

 Spiritual Journey in Heart of Darkness

(1) Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad may be a narrative about colonization, revealing its drawbacks and corruption, it may also be understood as a journey into the depths of one’s psyche, if taken at a symbolic level.

(2) At the beginning of the novel, the reader is informed that Marlow is a ‘wanderer’ and was ‘not typical’ contrary to stay–at-home–minded seamen.(3) He has no home, in a psychological sense of the word.  (4) He simply “follows the sea”.  (5) This may evoke an interpretation that the man is disturbed, that he attempts to find out about the secrets of his soul, to get to know himself. (6) Since boyhood he had been interested in unexplored lands and especially in a long winding snake-like river with the “head” in the sea and “tail” plunging deeply into the land, which, as Marlow admits, “charmed” him.  (7)  This image resembles a map of a journey from the dark lands of the soul, the unconstrained, uncivilized core, which may be called a Freudian Id, towards light, that is Superego.(8)  Marlow desires to follow this path in the opposite direction to explore the depths of himself.

Which of the following would be the best way to begin the passage?

Direction for questions 13 to 18: The following passage is an early draft of an essay. Some parts of the passage need to be rewritten. Read the passage and select the best answers for the questions that follow. Some questions are about particular sentences or parts of sentences and ask you to improve sentence structure or word choice. Other questions ask you to consider organization and development. In choosing answers, follow the requirements of standard written English.

Macbeth
(1) Composed in late 1606 or early 1607, Macbeth is the last of Shakespeare's four great tragedies, the others being Hamlet, King Lear and Othello. (2) It is a relatively short play without a major subplot, and it is considered by many scholars to be Shakespeare’s darkest work. (3) Lear is an utter tragedy in which the natural world is amorally indifferent toward mankind, but in Macbeth, Shakespeare adds a supernatural dimension that purposively conspires against Macbeth and his kingdom. (4) In the tragedy of Lear, the distraught king summons the goddess of Chaos, Hecht, in Macbeth, Hecate appears as an actual character.

(5) Shakespeare's Scottish tragedy is about Macbeth's bloody rise to power, including the murder of the Scottish king, Duncan, and the guilt-ridden pathology of evil deeds generating still more evil deeds. (6) Lady Macbeth was an integral part of the play’s most memorable character in the thematic web. (7) Like her husband, Lady Macbeth's ambition for power leads her into an unnatural, phantasmagoric realm of witchcraft, insomnia and madness. (8) While Macbeth responds to the prophecies of the play's famous trio of witches, Lady Macbeth goes even further by figuratively transforming herself into an unnatural, desexualized evil spirit. (9) The current trend of critical opinion is toward an upward reevaluation of Lady Macbeth, who is said to be rehumanized by her insanity and her suicide. (10) Much of this reappraisal of Lady Macbeth has taken place in discussions of her ironically strong marriage to Macbeth. (11) A union that on unfolding of the tragedy undergoes disintegration rested on loving bonds.