Reading Comprehension

The high number of otters counted this year were

Directions: Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the twin passage.

Passage – I
It seemed that everywhere scientists looked this year -- especially in Monterey Bay-- they saw sea otters. “Silver headed male is coming in” says a counter.
Up and down the California coast, federal, state and private researchers turned their eyes to the water for the annual spring sea otter count. That's three resting plus one small say a counter. The results returned numbers so high that scientists believe they're misleading. The spring count this year is the highest we've ever had since 1983, said Greg Sanders of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. So that's encouraging. Two thousand five hundred and five (2,505) otters were counted in this year's census, up 17% from last year. But the count only reflects otters that were observed. Scientists say the observing conditions this year were very good and more otters have congregated in Monterey Bay, where they are easily seen. “I have no confidence that the population really is increasing now, said Dr. Jim Estes, an ecology researcher with the U.S. Geological Survey and one of the leaders of the annual count. I think it's roughly stable. On the chart, the raw numbers show this year's spike. But when the counts are displayed as a three year running average, the increase levels out.
Scientists believe a harsh early winter combined with increased food attracted many more otters close in to Monterey Bay, where they could be seen and counted. This also may explain what appeared to be a mystery in April. This spring, an exceptionally large number of dead and dying sea otters were found around Monterey Bay. There were reports that a disease carried by cat feces contributed to the deaths. But the explanation offered now is quite a bit simpler.
It's simply that there are a lot of live ones out there and thus are a lot of dead ones accumulating as a result of all these live ones, said Estes. The increase in dead otters is proportional to the increase in live ones -- meaning that the so-called unusual deaths reported in April were not unusual at all. Scientists say if the otter count shows an increase over the next several years, they'll know the downward population trend that began in the mid-1990s has actually reversed. Despite the increase this year, the 2,505 otters counted are still a fraction of the 18,000 to 20,000 believed to have lived along what is now the California coast (among about 250,000 worldwide) before they were hunted to near-extinction.

Passage – II
The story on the re-discovery of California's sea otter is well-documented. In 1938 a group of otters were spotted near Bixby Bridge along the Big Sur coast. This sighting confirmed that California's otter was, indeed, still in existence.
That was 57 years ago. For almost half of that time Friends of the Sea Otter (FSO) has worked to protect the sea otter and its habitat from a wide range of threats. And it is in large part due to FSO's efforts that the California (southern) sea otter population has grown. In 1968 when Margaret Owings, a well respected conservationist, and Dr. Jim Mattison, an avid outdoorsman, founded FSO, the southern sea otter population numbered about 650. Since that time, the population has grown in number and range and includes about 2,300 otters along the central California coastline. When FSO first began, it was operated solely on a volunteer basis; many times meetings were held at Owings' home and it was through her sheer force of will that the organization continued. She helped establish environmental policy to benefit the otter; she spoke to legislators both in Sacramento and Washington D.C.; and she used her insight and knowledge to rally scientists, conservationists, educators, and friends to embrace FSO's mission. Mattison marched along with her at every step, albeit with a different focus. He utilized his considerable medical knowledge to help in the biological research of otters; and he turned his scuba diving hobby into a treasure trove of pictures, information, and data - all about otters - for FSO. The success of FSO is well-known in the environmental community. As the only advocacy organization for sea otters in the world, in the fight to protect our marine communities. FSO is now assessing those threats facing Alaska otters - a species that was tragically affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound - for successful resolution. Additionally, FSO is investigating the plight of Russian otters which are outside the protection of both the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The most serious threat they face comes from poachers hunting for skins. What began as two people's commitment to save a single species has become an organization with a staff fully committed to ensuring not only the protection of the sea otter, but also the preservation of critical marine environments necessary to the otter's survival.

To continue her organization Margaret Owings did all the following, except that

Directions: Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the twin passage.

Passage – I
It seemed that everywhere scientists looked this year -- especially in Monterey Bay-- they saw sea otters. “Silver headed male is coming in” says a counter.
Up and down the California coast, federal, state and private researchers turned their eyes to the water for the annual spring sea otter count. That's three resting plus one small say a counter. The results returned numbers so high that scientists believe they're misleading. The spring count this year is the highest we've ever had since 1983, said Greg Sanders of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. So that's encouraging. Two thousand five hundred and five (2,505) otters were counted in this year's census, up 17% from last year. But the count only reflects otters that were observed. Scientists say the observing conditions this year were very good and more otters have congregated in Monterey Bay, where they are easily seen. “I have no confidence that the population really is increasing now, said Dr. Jim Estes, an ecology researcher with the U.S. Geological Survey and one of the leaders of the annual count. I think it's roughly stable. On the chart, the raw numbers show this year's spike. But when the counts are displayed as a three year running average, the increase levels out.
Scientists believe a harsh early winter combined with increased food attracted many more otters close in to Monterey Bay, where they could be seen and counted. This also may explain what appeared to be a mystery in April. This spring, an exceptionally large number of dead and dying sea otters were found around Monterey Bay. There were reports that a disease carried by cat feces contributed to the deaths. But the explanation offered now is quite a bit simpler.
It's simply that there are a lot of live ones out there and thus are a lot of dead ones accumulating as a result of all these live ones, said Estes. The increase in dead otters is proportional to the increase in live ones -- meaning that the so-called unusual deaths reported in April were not unusual at all. Scientists say if the otter count shows an increase over the next several years, they'll know the downward population trend that began in the mid-1990s has actually reversed. Despite the increase this year, the 2,505 otters counted are still a fraction of the 18,000 to 20,000 believed to have lived along what is now the California coast (among about 250,000 worldwide) before they were hunted to near-extinction.

Passage – II
The story on the re-discovery of California's sea otter is well-documented. In 1938 a group of otters were spotted near Bixby Bridge along the Big Sur coast. This sighting confirmed that California's otter was, indeed, still in existence.
That was 57 years ago. For almost half of that time Friends of the Sea Otter (FSO) has worked to protect the sea otter and its habitat from a wide range of threats. And it is in large part due to FSO's efforts that the California (southern) sea otter population has grown. In 1968 when Margaret Owings, a well respected conservationist, and Dr. Jim Mattison, an avid outdoorsman, founded FSO, the southern sea otter population numbered about 650. Since that time, the population has grown in number and range and includes about 2,300 otters along the central California coastline. When FSO first began, it was operated solely on a volunteer basis; many times meetings were held at Owings' home and it was through her sheer force of will that the organization continued. She helped establish environmental policy to benefit the otter; she spoke to legislators both in Sacramento and Washington D.C.; and she used her insight and knowledge to rally scientists, conservationists, educators, and friends to embrace FSO's mission. Mattison marched along with her at every step, albeit with a different focus. He utilized his considerable medical knowledge to help in the biological research of otters; and he turned his scuba diving hobby into a treasure trove of pictures, information, and data - all about otters - for FSO. The success of FSO is well-known in the environmental community. As the only advocacy organization for sea otters in the world, in the fight to protect our marine communities. FSO is now assessing those threats facing Alaska otters - a species that was tragically affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound - for successful resolution. Additionally, FSO is investigating the plight of Russian otters which are outside the protection of both the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The most serious threat they face comes from poachers hunting for skins. What began as two people's commitment to save a single species has become an organization with a staff fully committed to ensuring not only the protection of the sea otter, but also the preservation of critical marine environments necessary to the otter's survival.

Directions: Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the twin passage.

Passage – I
To the Editor:
Life is too restrictive today. There are too many too-rigid rules. No smoking, no cell phone use, parking for handicapped people only, no loitering, no skateboarding, shirts and shoes required; these signs scream out at you everywhere you go. Next, someone will be passing a law against talking in public. Things have gone too far.
Civility is all very well, but what has happened to liberty? Why can't I use my cell phone in a restaurant? Why do I have to turn off the alarm on my watch in the movie theater?

Things reached the height of absurdity today when I was sitting in my car, waiting to pick up my girlfriend after work at Valley Hospital. There I was, parked at the ambulance entrance, listening to a Lou Reed tape on my newly installed custom sound system. I mean, I wasn't bothering anyone. But this security guard came over to me, asked me to move my car out of the way, and told me he would call the police if I didn't turn the music down! There are sick people inside the hospital, and they need peace and quiet, he whined. Sick people need good music to stir them up, I replied. And the next thing I knew, a police officer was writing out a parking ticket and telling me to move my car.
That's just one little example of my point, but I could go on and on. There are too many rules, too little liberty. Is everyone else out there as mad as I am? Let's join together and fight against restrictive rules!

Yours truly, 
Richard Sylvester

Passage – II
Dear Richard,
Various rules and regulations have been put in place to ensure that our society is peaceful and orderly. Indiscipline implies the lack of self-control and disobedience resulting in flagrant violation of rules and regulations which in turn creates disorder and chaos. Some acts of indiscipline result from lack of self-control. It accounts for immorality, bad temper and greed which in turn lead to stealing, robbery and other related crimes. In short, crimes of all kinds are perpetuations of indiscipline. Therefore, if one fights indiscipline, he or she is also fighting crime. In fact indiscipline and crime are bedfellows. It is discipline that creates productivity and wealth in a country. The economic, social and moral growth of the country and its resulting prosperity depends on discipline. If the workers of the country are not disciplined, production automatically goes down. If teachers are indisciplined, the educational system will certainly break down. Similarly, indisciplined parents or family create a breed of children who lack discipline and may turn out to be criminals. If our pastors and church leaders are indisciplined, there will be no harmony in the churches and the moral growth of the nation will suffer. Politicians who possess no discipline cannot lead the people and the end result will be chaos. Disturbances in the country may be attributed to lack of discipline on the part of the security personnel. Chiefs who are not disciplined cannot retain the confidence of their subjects and anarchy may reign in that community. Obviously, the importance of discipline in the lives of the people of any nation or society cannot be gainsaid since that nation or society can only be organised with discipline.

Yours truly,
Editor

What is the organizational pattern of this sentence?

There I was, parked at the ambulance entrance, listening to a Lou Reed tape on my newly installed custom sound system.

Directions: Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the twin passage.

Passage – I
To the Editor:
Life is too restrictive today. There are too many too-rigid rules. No smoking, no cell phone use, parking for handicapped people only, no loitering, no skateboarding, shirts and shoes required; these signs scream out at you everywhere you go. Next, someone will be passing a law against talking in public. Things have gone too far.
Civility is all very well, but what has happened to liberty? Why can't I use my cell phone in a restaurant? Why do I have to turn off the alarm on my watch in the movie theater?

Things reached the height of absurdity today when I was sitting in my car, waiting to pick up my girlfriend after work at Valley Hospital. There I was, parked at the ambulance entrance, listening to a Lou Reed tape on my newly installed custom sound system. I mean, I wasn't bothering anyone. But this security guard came over to me, asked me to move my car out of the way, and told me he would call the police if I didn't turn the music down! There are sick people inside the hospital, and they need peace and quiet, he whined. Sick people need good music to stir them up, I replied. And the next thing I knew, a police officer was writing out a parking ticket and telling me to move my car.
That's just one little example of my point, but I could go on and on. There are too many rules, too little liberty. Is everyone else out there as mad as I am? Let's join together and fight against restrictive rules!

Yours truly, 
Richard Sylvester

Passage – II
Dear Richard,
Various rules and regulations have been put in place to ensure that our society is peaceful and orderly. Indiscipline implies the lack of self-control and disobedience resulting in flagrant violation of rules and regulations which in turn creates disorder and chaos. Some acts of indiscipline result from lack of self-control. It accounts for immorality, bad temper and greed which in turn lead to stealing, robbery and other related crimes. In short, crimes of all kinds are perpetuations of indiscipline. Therefore, if one fights indiscipline, he or she is also fighting crime. In fact indiscipline and crime are bedfellows. It is discipline that creates productivity and wealth in a country. The economic, social and moral growth of the country and its resulting prosperity depends on discipline. If the workers of the country are not disciplined, production automatically goes down. If teachers are indisciplined, the educational system will certainly break down. Similarly, indisciplined parents or family create a breed of children who lack discipline and may turn out to be criminals. If our pastors and church leaders are indisciplined, there will be no harmony in the churches and the moral growth of the nation will suffer. Politicians who possess no discipline cannot lead the people and the end result will be chaos. Disturbances in the country may be attributed to lack of discipline on the part of the security personnel. Chiefs who are not disciplined cannot retain the confidence of their subjects and anarchy may reign in that community. Obviously, the importance of discipline in the lives of the people of any nation or society cannot be gainsaid since that nation or society can only be organised with discipline.

Yours truly,
Editor

The following are all meanings of the highlighted word 'flagrant' in Passage II, except

Directions: Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the twin passage.

Passage – I
To the Editor:
Life is too restrictive today. There are too many too-rigid rules. No smoking, no cell phone use, parking for handicapped people only, no loitering, no skateboarding, shirts and shoes required; these signs scream out at you everywhere you go. Next, someone will be passing a law against talking in public. Things have gone too far.
Civility is all very well, but what has happened to liberty? Why can't I use my cell phone in a restaurant? Why do I have to turn off the alarm on my watch in the movie theater?

Things reached the height of absurdity today when I was sitting in my car, waiting to pick up my girlfriend after work at Valley Hospital. There I was, parked at the ambulance entrance, listening to a Lou Reed tape on my newly installed custom sound system. I mean, I wasn't bothering anyone. But this security guard came over to me, asked me to move my car out of the way, and told me he would call the police if I didn't turn the music down! There are sick people inside the hospital, and they need peace and quiet, he whined. Sick people need good music to stir them up, I replied. And the next thing I knew, a police officer was writing out a parking ticket and telling me to move my car.
That's just one little example of my point, but I could go on and on. There are too many rules, too little liberty. Is everyone else out there as mad as I am? Let's join together and fight against restrictive rules!

Yours truly, 
Richard Sylvester

Passage – II
Dear Richard,
Various rules and regulations have been put in place to ensure that our society is peaceful and orderly. Indiscipline implies the lack of self-control and disobedience resulting in flagrant violation of rules and regulations which in turn creates disorder and chaos. Some acts of indiscipline result from lack of self-control. It accounts for immorality, bad temper and greed which in turn lead to stealing, robbery and other related crimes. In short, crimes of all kinds are perpetuations of indiscipline. Therefore, if one fights indiscipline, he or she is also fighting crime. In fact indiscipline and crime are bedfellows. It is discipline that creates productivity and wealth in a country. The economic, social and moral growth of the country and its resulting prosperity depends on discipline. If the workers of the country are not disciplined, production automatically goes down. If teachers are indisciplined, the educational system will certainly break down. Similarly, indisciplined parents or family create a breed of children who lack discipline and may turn out to be criminals. If our pastors and church leaders are indisciplined, there will be no harmony in the churches and the moral growth of the nation will suffer. Politicians who possess no discipline cannot lead the people and the end result will be chaos. Disturbances in the country may be attributed to lack of discipline on the part of the security personnel. Chiefs who are not disciplined cannot retain the confidence of their subjects and anarchy may reign in that community. Obviously, the importance of discipline in the lives of the people of any nation or society cannot be gainsaid since that nation or society can only be organised with discipline.

Yours truly,
Editor

The purpose of Passage I is to

Directions: Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the twin passage.

Passage – I
To the Editor:
Life is too restrictive today. There are too many too-rigid rules. No smoking, no cell phone use, parking for handicapped people only, no loitering, no skateboarding, shirts and shoes required; these signs scream out at you everywhere you go. Next, someone will be passing a law against talking in public. Things have gone too far.
Civility is all very well, but what has happened to liberty? Why can't I use my cell phone in a restaurant? Why do I have to turn off the alarm on my watch in the movie theater?

Things reached the height of absurdity today when I was sitting in my car, waiting to pick up my girlfriend after work at Valley Hospital. There I was, parked at the ambulance entrance, listening to a Lou Reed tape on my newly installed custom sound system. I mean, I wasn't bothering anyone. But this security guard came over to me, asked me to move my car out of the way, and told me he would call the police if I didn't turn the music down! There are sick people inside the hospital, and they need peace and quiet, he whined. Sick people need good music to stir them up, I replied. And the next thing I knew, a police officer was writing out a parking ticket and telling me to move my car.
That's just one little example of my point, but I could go on and on. There are too many rules, too little liberty. Is everyone else out there as mad as I am? Let's join together and fight against restrictive rules!

Yours truly, 
Richard Sylvester

Passage – II
Dear Richard,
Various rules and regulations have been put in place to ensure that our society is peaceful and orderly. Indiscipline implies the lack of self-control and disobedience resulting in flagrant violation of rules and regulations which in turn creates disorder and chaos. Some acts of indiscipline result from lack of self-control. It accounts for immorality, bad temper and greed which in turn lead to stealing, robbery and other related crimes. In short, crimes of all kinds are perpetuations of indiscipline. Therefore, if one fights indiscipline, he or she is also fighting crime. In fact indiscipline and crime are bedfellows. It is discipline that creates productivity and wealth in a country. The economic, social and moral growth of the country and its resulting prosperity depends on discipline. If the workers of the country are not disciplined, production automatically goes down. If teachers are indisciplined, the educational system will certainly break down. Similarly, indisciplined parents or family create a breed of children who lack discipline and may turn out to be criminals. If our pastors and church leaders are indisciplined, there will be no harmony in the churches and the moral growth of the nation will suffer. Politicians who possess no discipline cannot lead the people and the end result will be chaos. Disturbances in the country may be attributed to lack of discipline on the part of the security personnel. Chiefs who are not disciplined cannot retain the confidence of their subjects and anarchy may reign in that community. Obviously, the importance of discipline in the lives of the people of any nation or society cannot be gainsaid since that nation or society can only be organised with discipline.

Yours truly,
Editor

Directions: Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the twin passage.

Passage – I
To the Editor:
Life is too restrictive today. There are too many too-rigid rules. No smoking, no cell phone use, parking for handicapped people only, no loitering, no skateboarding, shirts and shoes required; these signs scream out at you everywhere you go. Next, someone will be passing a law against talking in public. Things have gone too far.
Civility is all very well, but what has happened to liberty? Why can't I use my cell phone in a restaurant? Why do I have to turn off the alarm on my watch in the movie theater?

Things reached the height of absurdity today when I was sitting in my car, waiting to pick up my girlfriend after work at Valley Hospital. There I was, parked at the ambulance entrance, listening to a Lou Reed tape on my newly installed custom sound system. I mean, I wasn't bothering anyone. But this security guard came over to me, asked me to move my car out of the way, and told me he would call the police if I didn't turn the music down! There are sick people inside the hospital, and they need peace and quiet, he whined. Sick people need good music to stir them up, I replied. And the next thing I knew, a police officer was writing out a parking ticket and telling me to move my car.
That's just one little example of my point, but I could go on and on. There are too many rules, too little liberty. Is everyone else out there as mad as I am? Let's join together and fight against restrictive rules!

Yours truly, 
Richard Sylvester

Passage – II
Dear Richard,
Various rules and regulations have been put in place to ensure that our society is peaceful and orderly. Indiscipline implies the lack of self-control and disobedience resulting in flagrant violation of rules and regulations which in turn creates disorder and chaos. Some acts of indiscipline result from lack of self-control. It accounts for immorality, bad temper and greed which in turn lead to stealing, robbery and other related crimes. In short, crimes of all kinds are perpetuations of indiscipline. Therefore, if one fights indiscipline, he or she is also fighting crime. In fact indiscipline and crime are bedfellows. It is discipline that creates productivity and wealth in a country. The economic, social and moral growth of the country and its resulting prosperity depends on discipline. If the workers of the country are not disciplined, production automatically goes down. If teachers are indisciplined, the educational system will certainly break down. Similarly, indisciplined parents or family create a breed of children who lack discipline and may turn out to be criminals. If our pastors and church leaders are indisciplined, there will be no harmony in the churches and the moral growth of the nation will suffer. Politicians who possess no discipline cannot lead the people and the end result will be chaos. Disturbances in the country may be attributed to lack of discipline on the part of the security personnel. Chiefs who are not disciplined cannot retain the confidence of their subjects and anarchy may reign in that community. Obviously, the importance of discipline in the lives of the people of any nation or society cannot be gainsaid since that nation or society can only be organised with discipline.

Yours truly,
Editor

Which statement from the passage is an example of an invalid argument?

Directions: Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the twin passage.

Passage – I
To the Editor:
Life is too restrictive today. There are too many too-rigid rules. No smoking, no cell phone use, parking for handicapped people only, no loitering, no skateboarding, shirts and shoes required; these signs scream out at you everywhere you go. Next, someone will be passing a law against talking in public. Things have gone too far.
Civility is all very well, but what has happened to liberty? Why can't I use my cell phone in a restaurant? Why do I have to turn off the alarm on my watch in the movie theater?

Things reached the height of absurdity today when I was sitting in my car, waiting to pick up my girlfriend after work at Valley Hospital. There I was, parked at the ambulance entrance, listening to a Lou Reed tape on my newly installed custom sound system. I mean, I wasn't bothering anyone. But this security guard came over to me, asked me to move my car out of the way, and told me he would call the police if I didn't turn the music down! There are sick people inside the hospital, and they need peace and quiet, he whined. Sick people need good music to stir them up, I replied. And the next thing I knew, a police officer was writing out a parking ticket and telling me to move my car.
That's just one little example of my point, but I could go on and on. There are too many rules, too little liberty. Is everyone else out there as mad as I am? Let's join together and fight against restrictive rules!

Yours truly, 
Richard Sylvester

Passage – II
Dear Richard,
Various rules and regulations have been put in place to ensure that our society is peaceful and orderly. Indiscipline implies the lack of self-control and disobedience resulting in flagrant violation of rules and regulations which in turn creates disorder and chaos. Some acts of indiscipline result from lack of self-control. It accounts for immorality, bad temper and greed which in turn lead to stealing, robbery and other related crimes. In short, crimes of all kinds are perpetuations of indiscipline. Therefore, if one fights indiscipline, he or she is also fighting crime. In fact indiscipline and crime are bedfellows. It is discipline that creates productivity and wealth in a country. The economic, social and moral growth of the country and its resulting prosperity depends on discipline. If the workers of the country are not disciplined, production automatically goes down. If teachers are indisciplined, the educational system will certainly break down. Similarly, indisciplined parents or family create a breed of children who lack discipline and may turn out to be criminals. If our pastors and church leaders are indisciplined, there will be no harmony in the churches and the moral growth of the nation will suffer. Politicians who possess no discipline cannot lead the people and the end result will be chaos. Disturbances in the country may be attributed to lack of discipline on the part of the security personnel. Chiefs who are not disciplined cannot retain the confidence of their subjects and anarchy may reign in that community. Obviously, the importance of discipline in the lives of the people of any nation or society cannot be gainsaid since that nation or society can only be organised with discipline.

Yours truly,
Editor

Directions: Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the twin passage.

Passage – I
To the Editor:
Life is too restrictive today. There are too many too-rigid rules. No smoking, no cell phone use, parking for handicapped people only, no loitering, no skateboarding, shirts and shoes required; these signs scream out at you everywhere you go. Next, someone will be passing a law against talking in public. Things have gone too far.
Civility is all very well, but what has happened to liberty? Why can't I use my cell phone in a restaurant? Why do I have to turn off the alarm on my watch in the movie theater?

Things reached the height of absurdity today when I was sitting in my car, waiting to pick up my girlfriend after work at Valley Hospital. There I was, parked at the ambulance entrance, listening to a Lou Reed tape on my newly installed custom sound system. I mean, I wasn't bothering anyone. But this security guard came over to me, asked me to move my car out of the way, and told me he would call the police if I didn't turn the music down! There are sick people inside the hospital, and they need peace and quiet, he whined. Sick people need good music to stir them up, I replied. And the next thing I knew, a police officer was writing out a parking ticket and telling me to move my car.
That's just one little example of my point, but I could go on and on. There are too many rules, too little liberty. Is everyone else out there as mad as I am? Let's join together and fight against restrictive rules!

Yours truly, 
Richard Sylvester

Passage – II
Dear Richard,
Various rules and regulations have been put in place to ensure that our society is peaceful and orderly. Indiscipline implies the lack of self-control and disobedience resulting in flagrant violation of rules and regulations which in turn creates disorder and chaos. Some acts of indiscipline result from lack of self-control. It accounts for immorality, bad temper and greed which in turn lead to stealing, robbery and other related crimes. In short, crimes of all kinds are perpetuations of indiscipline. Therefore, if one fights indiscipline, he or she is also fighting crime. In fact indiscipline and crime are bedfellows. It is discipline that creates productivity and wealth in a country. The economic, social and moral growth of the country and its resulting prosperity depends on discipline. If the workers of the country are not disciplined, production automatically goes down. If teachers are indisciplined, the educational system will certainly break down. Similarly, indisciplined parents or family create a breed of children who lack discipline and may turn out to be criminals. If our pastors and church leaders are indisciplined, there will be no harmony in the churches and the moral growth of the nation will suffer. Politicians who possess no discipline cannot lead the people and the end result will be chaos. Disturbances in the country may be attributed to lack of discipline on the part of the security personnel. Chiefs who are not disciplined cannot retain the confidence of their subjects and anarchy may reign in that community. Obviously, the importance of discipline in the lives of the people of any nation or society cannot be gainsaid since that nation or society can only be organised with discipline.

Yours truly,
Editor

The following are all characteristics of Chinese paintings and art, except

Directions: Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the twin passage.

Passage – I
When it comes to Stone Age technology, it seems, Africa and Eurasia were something of a Silicon Valley, while eastern Asia, until recently, was considered more like a Rust Belt. Human ancestors in Africa and Eurasia were making relatively advanced large stone tools like axes and cleavers hundreds of thousands of years ago. But no similar tools from that time had been found in Asia, supporting a theory that the region was geographically, and thus culturally and perhaps genetically, isolated.
That theory has now taken a pounding, after the announcement, in the current issue of the journal Science, of the discovery of large stone tools in Southern China. The tools, cobbles and large stone flakes that had been extensively chipped into cutting shapes, were dated to about 800,000 years ago. So it appears that the hominids of eastern Asia were as technologically advanced as their counterparts in Africa and Eurasia.
Still, advanced tools have now been found from only one date in eastern Asia, while in Africa and Eurasia they range over about a million years. The authors of the Science paper suggest why this might be: the hominids of the Chinese site might have been taking advantage of a change in their local environment.
Found among the sediments at the site were tektites, glassy objects that can result from a catastrophic event like a meteorite impact, as well as much charcoal. The researchers suggest that the event that created the tektites would have caused wide burning and destruction of forests, exposing cobble outcroppings. The early humans then eventually came to make use of the available stone.

Passage - II
Chinese art goes back many centuries. Early themes were developed from religious and supernatural beliefs or from the natural environment and landscape. One of the oldest and most basic forms of Chinese art is calligraphy, the painting of the Chinese characters with a brush. Calligraphy has developed as a pure art form with its own standards of excellence. Building on the tradition of calligraphy, Chinese painting developed a distinctive style that differs greatly from Western painting. It is more efficient in terms of brushstrokes and appears more abstract. Landscapes have always been a popular theme, and sometimes these appear bizarre to the Western eye. To the Chinese painter, they may represent a figurative view painted with a few swift strokes of the artist's brush. With their stress on simplicity and economy, Chinese calligraphy, painting, and poetry are closely related. In all of them, the artist seeks to express both inner harmony and harmony with the natural surroundings. Chinese poets and painters often have sought inspiration by withdrawing to isolated, mountainous areas, and these landscapes have become conventional themes of Chinese art. Similarly, Chinese architecture has traditionally aimed to convey harmony with society and nature. The magnificent life-size terra-cotta statues of men and horses, discovered in the early 1970s in the tomb of an emperor who died in 210 BC, provide some indication of the long history of Chinese sculpture. After the introduction of Buddhism into China, Buddhist subjects became dominant themes of the sculptor's art. Perhaps best known (and most copied) in the West, however, are the works of Chinese decorative artists, such as pottery, bronzes, lacquer ware, and exquisitely detailed jade and ivory carvings.

Directions: Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the twin passage.

Passage – I
It seemed that everywhere scientists looked this year -- especially in Monterey Bay-- they saw sea otters. “Silver headed male is coming in” says a counter.
Up and down the California coast, federal, state and private researchers turned their eyes to the water for the annual spring sea otter count. That's three resting plus one small say a counter. The results returned numbers so high that scientists believe they're misleading. The spring count this year is the highest we've ever had since 1983, said Greg Sanders of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. So that's encouraging. Two thousand five hundred and five (2,505) otters were counted in this year's census, up 17% from last year. But the count only reflects otters that were observed. Scientists say the observing conditions this year were very good and more otters have congregated in Monterey Bay, where they are easily seen. “I have no confidence that the population really is increasing now, said Dr. Jim Estes, an ecology researcher with the U.S. Geological Survey and one of the leaders of the annual count. I think it's roughly stable. On the chart, the raw numbers show this year's spike. But when the counts are displayed as a three year running average, the increase levels out.
Scientists believe a harsh early winter combined with increased food attracted many more otters close in to Monterey Bay, where they could be seen and counted. This also may explain what appeared to be a mystery in April. This spring, an exceptionally large number of dead and dying sea otters were found around Monterey Bay. There were reports that a disease carried by cat feces contributed to the deaths. But the explanation offered now is quite a bit simpler.
It's simply that there are a lot of live ones out there and thus are a lot of dead ones accumulating as a result of all these live ones, said Estes. The increase in dead otters is proportional to the increase in live ones -- meaning that the so-called unusual deaths reported in April were not unusual at all. Scientists say if the otter count shows an increase over the next several years, they'll know the downward population trend that began in the mid-1990s has actually reversed. Despite the increase this year, the 2,505 otters counted are still a fraction of the 18,000 to 20,000 believed to have lived along what is now the California coast (among about 250,000 worldwide) before they were hunted to near-extinction.

Passage – II
The story on the re-discovery of California's sea otter is well-documented. In 1938 a group of otters were spotted near Bixby Bridge along the Big Sur coast. This sighting confirmed that California's otter was, indeed, still in existence.
That was 57 years ago. For almost half of that time Friends of the Sea Otter (FSO) has worked to protect the sea otter and its habitat from a wide range of threats. And it is in large part due to FSO's efforts that the California (southern) sea otter population has grown. In 1968 when Margaret Owings, a well respected conservationist, and Dr. Jim Mattison, an avid outdoorsman, founded FSO, the southern sea otter population numbered about 650. Since that time, the population has grown in number and range and includes about 2,300 otters along the central California coastline. When FSO first began, it was operated solely on a volunteer basis; many times meetings were held at Owings' home and it was through her sheer force of will that the organization continued. She helped establish environmental policy to benefit the otter; she spoke to legislators both in Sacramento and Washington D.C.; and she used her insight and knowledge to rally scientists, conservationists, educators, and friends to embrace FSO's mission. Mattison marched along with her at every step, albeit with a different focus. He utilized his considerable medical knowledge to help in the biological research of otters; and he turned his scuba diving hobby into a treasure trove of pictures, information, and data - all about otters - for FSO. The success of FSO is well-known in the environmental community. As the only advocacy organization for sea otters in the world, in the fight to protect our marine communities. FSO is now assessing those threats facing Alaska otters - a species that was tragically affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound - for successful resolution. Additionally, FSO is investigating the plight of Russian otters which are outside the protection of both the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The most serious threat they face comes from poachers hunting for skins. What began as two people's commitment to save a single species has become an organization with a staff fully committed to ensuring not only the protection of the sea otter, but also the preservation of critical marine environments necessary to the otter's survival.

If both the passages are combined what would be the heading of the combined passages?

Directions: Answer the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the twin passage.

Passage – I
It seemed that everywhere scientists looked this year -- especially in Monterey Bay-- they saw sea otters. “Silver headed male is coming in” says a counter.
Up and down the California coast, federal, state and private researchers turned their eyes to the water for the annual spring sea otter count. That's three resting plus one small say a counter. The results returned numbers so high that scientists believe they're misleading. The spring count this year is the highest we've ever had since 1983, said Greg Sanders of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. So that's encouraging. Two thousand five hundred and five (2,505) otters were counted in this year's census, up 17% from last year. But the count only reflects otters that were observed. Scientists say the observing conditions this year were very good and more otters have congregated in Monterey Bay, where they are easily seen. “I have no confidence that the population really is increasing now, said Dr. Jim Estes, an ecology researcher with the U.S. Geological Survey and one of the leaders of the annual count. I think it's roughly stable. On the chart, the raw numbers show this year's spike. But when the counts are displayed as a three year running average, the increase levels out.
Scientists believe a harsh early winter combined with increased food attracted many more otters close in to Monterey Bay, where they could be seen and counted. This also may explain what appeared to be a mystery in April. This spring, an exceptionally large number of dead and dying sea otters were found around Monterey Bay. There were reports that a disease carried by cat feces contributed to the deaths. But the explanation offered now is quite a bit simpler.
It's simply that there are a lot of live ones out there and thus are a lot of dead ones accumulating as a result of all these live ones, said Estes. The increase in dead otters is proportional to the increase in live ones -- meaning that the so-called unusual deaths reported in April were not unusual at all. Scientists say if the otter count shows an increase over the next several years, they'll know the downward population trend that began in the mid-1990s has actually reversed. Despite the increase this year, the 2,505 otters counted are still a fraction of the 18,000 to 20,000 believed to have lived along what is now the California coast (among about 250,000 worldwide) before they were hunted to near-extinction.

Passage – II
The story on the re-discovery of California's sea otter is well-documented. In 1938 a group of otters were spotted near Bixby Bridge along the Big Sur coast. This sighting confirmed that California's otter was, indeed, still in existence.
That was 57 years ago. For almost half of that time Friends of the Sea Otter (FSO) has worked to protect the sea otter and its habitat from a wide range of threats. And it is in large part due to FSO's efforts that the California (southern) sea otter population has grown. In 1968 when Margaret Owings, a well respected conservationist, and Dr. Jim Mattison, an avid outdoorsman, founded FSO, the southern sea otter population numbered about 650. Since that time, the population has grown in number and range and includes about 2,300 otters along the central California coastline. When FSO first began, it was operated solely on a volunteer basis; many times meetings were held at Owings' home and it was through her sheer force of will that the organization continued. She helped establish environmental policy to benefit the otter; she spoke to legislators both in Sacramento and Washington D.C.; and she used her insight and knowledge to rally scientists, conservationists, educators, and friends to embrace FSO's mission. Mattison marched along with her at every step, albeit with a different focus. He utilized his considerable medical knowledge to help in the biological research of otters; and he turned his scuba diving hobby into a treasure trove of pictures, information, and data - all about otters - for FSO. The success of FSO is well-known in the environmental community. As the only advocacy organization for sea otters in the world, in the fight to protect our marine communities. FSO is now assessing those threats facing Alaska otters - a species that was tragically affected by the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound - for successful resolution. Additionally, FSO is investigating the plight of Russian otters which are outside the protection of both the U.S. Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The most serious threat they face comes from poachers hunting for skins. What began as two people's commitment to save a single species has become an organization with a staff fully committed to ensuring not only the protection of the sea otter, but also the preservation of critical marine environments necessary to the otter's survival.

What did Guna-Vara say to the king after being told of her imprisonment?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and choose the best answer to the question out of the four alternatives.

In the city of Vardhamana in India, there lived a powerful king named Vira-Bhuja, who, as was the custom in his native land, had many wives, each of whom had several sons. Of all his wives, this king loved best the one named Guna-Vara, and of all his sons her youngest-born, called Sringa-Bhuja, was his favourite. Guna-Vara was not only very beautiful but very good. She was so patient that nothing could make her angry, so unselfish that she always thought of others before herself, and so wise that she was able to understand how others were feeling, however different their natures were from her own.
Sringa-Bhuja, the son of Guna-Vara, resembled his mother in her beauty and her unselfishness; he was also very strong and very clever, whilst his brothers were quite unlike him. They wanted to have everything their own way, and they were very jealous indeed of their father's love for him. They were always trying to do him harm, and though they often quarrelled amongst themselves, they would band together to try and hurt him.
It was very much the same with the king's wives. They hated Guna-Vara, because their husband loved her more than he did them, and they constantly came to him with stories they had made up of the wicked things she had done. Amongst other things they told the king that Guna-Vara did not really love him but cared more for someone else than she did for him. The most bitter of all against her was the wife called Ayasolekha, who was cunning enough to know what sort of tale the king was likely to believe. The very fact that Vira-Bhuja loved Guna-Vara so deeply made him more ready to think that perhaps after all she did not return his affection, and he longed to find out the truth. So, he in his turn made up a story, thinking by its means to find out how she felt for him. Therefore, he went one day to her private apartments, and having sent all her attendants away, he told her that he had some very sad news for her which he had heard from his chief astrologer. Astrologers, you know, are wise men, who are supposed to be able to read the secrets of the stars, and learn things from them which are hidden from ordinary human beings. Guna-Vara therefore did not doubt that what her husband was about to tell her was true, and she listened eagerly, her heart beating very fast in her fear that some trouble was coming to those she loved.

Great indeed was her sorrow and surprise, when Vira-Bhuja went on to say that the astrologer had told him that a terrible misfortune threatened him and his kingdom and the only way to prevent it was to shut Guna-Vara up in prison for the rest of her life. The poor queen could hardly believe that she had heard rightly. She knew she had done no wrong, and could not understand how putting her in prison could help anybody.
She was quite sure that her husband loved her, and no words could have expressed her pain at the thought of being sent away from him and her dear son. Yet she made no resistance, not even asking Vira-Bhuja to let her see Sringa-Bhuja again. She just bowed her beautiful head and said: "Be it unto me as my Lord wills. If he wishes my death, I am ready to lay down my life."
This submission made the king feel even more unhappy than before. He longed to take his wife in his arms and tell her he would never let her go; and perhaps if she had looked at him then, he would have seen all her love for him in her eyes, but she remained perfectly still with bowed head, waiting to hear what her fate was to be. Then the thought entered Vira-Bhuja's mind: "She is afraid to look at me: what Ayasolekha said was true."

What did the king do to find out the truth about his wives tales about Guna-Vara?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and choose the best answer to the question out of the four alternatives.

In the city of Vardhamana in India, there lived a powerful king named Vira-Bhuja, who, as was the custom in his native land, had many wives, each of whom had several sons. Of all his wives, this king loved best the one named Guna-Vara, and of all his sons her youngest-born, called Sringa-Bhuja, was his favourite. Guna-Vara was not only very beautiful but very good. She was so patient that nothing could make her angry, so unselfish that she always thought of others before herself, and so wise that she was able to understand how others were feeling, however different their natures were from her own.
Sringa-Bhuja, the son of Guna-Vara, resembled his mother in her beauty and her unselfishness; he was also very strong and very clever, whilst his brothers were quite unlike him. They wanted to have everything their own way, and they were very jealous indeed of their father's love for him. They were always trying to do him harm, and though they often quarrelled amongst themselves, they would band together to try and hurt him.
It was very much the same with the king's wives. They hated Guna-Vara, because their husband loved her more than he did them, and they constantly came to him with stories they had made up of the wicked things she had done. Amongst other things they told the king that Guna-Vara did not really love him but cared more for someone else than she did for him. The most bitter of all against her was the wife called Ayasolekha, who was cunning enough to know what sort of tale the king was likely to believe. The very fact that Vira-Bhuja loved Guna-Vara so deeply made him more ready to think that perhaps after all she did not return his affection, and he longed to find out the truth. So, he in his turn made up a story, thinking by its means to find out how she felt for him. Therefore, he went one day to her private apartments, and having sent all her attendants away, he told her that he had some very sad news for her which he had heard from his chief astrologer. Astrologers, you know, are wise men, who are supposed to be able to read the secrets of the stars, and learn things from them which are hidden from ordinary human beings. Guna-Vara therefore did not doubt that what her husband was about to tell her was true, and she listened eagerly, her heart beating very fast in her fear that some trouble was coming to those she loved.

Great indeed was her sorrow and surprise, when Vira-Bhuja went on to say that the astrologer had told him that a terrible misfortune threatened him and his kingdom and the only way to prevent it was to shut Guna-Vara up in prison for the rest of her life. The poor queen could hardly believe that she had heard rightly. She knew she had done no wrong, and could not understand how putting her in prison could help anybody.
She was quite sure that her husband loved her, and no words could have expressed her pain at the thought of being sent away from him and her dear son. Yet she made no resistance, not even asking Vira-Bhuja to let her see Sringa-Bhuja again. She just bowed her beautiful head and said: "Be it unto me as my Lord wills. If he wishes my death, I am ready to lay down my life."
This submission made the king feel even more unhappy than before. He longed to take his wife in his arms and tell her he would never let her go; and perhaps if she had looked at him then, he would have seen all her love for him in her eyes, but she remained perfectly still with bowed head, waiting to hear what her fate was to be. Then the thought entered Vira-Bhuja's mind: "She is afraid to look at me: what Ayasolekha said was true."

What story did the king tell Guna-Vara?

Directions: Read the given passage carefully and choose the best answer to the question out of the four alternatives.

In the city of Vardhamana in India, there lived a powerful king named Vira-Bhuja, who, as was the custom in his native land, had many wives, each of whom had several sons. Of all his wives, this king loved best the one named Guna-Vara, and of all his sons her youngest-born, called Sringa-Bhuja, was his favourite. Guna-Vara was not only very beautiful but very good. She was so patient that nothing could make her angry, so unselfish that she always thought of others before herself, and so wise that she was able to understand how others were feeling, however different their natures were from her own.
Sringa-Bhuja, the son of Guna-Vara, resembled his mother in her beauty and her unselfishness; he was also very strong and very clever, whilst his brothers were quite unlike him. They wanted to have everything their own way, and they were very jealous indeed of their father's love for him. They were always trying to do him harm, and though they often quarrelled amongst themselves, they would band together to try and hurt him.
It was very much the same with the king's wives. They hated Guna-Vara, because their husband loved her more than he did them, and they constantly came to him with stories they had made up of the wicked things she had done. Amongst other things they told the king that Guna-Vara did not really love him but cared more for someone else than she did for him. The most bitter of all against her was the wife called Ayasolekha, who was cunning enough to know what sort of tale the king was likely to believe. The very fact that Vira-Bhuja loved Guna-Vara so deeply made him more ready to think that perhaps after all she did not return his affection, and he longed to find out the truth. So, he in his turn made up a story, thinking by its means to find out how she felt for him. Therefore, he went one day to her private apartments, and having sent all her attendants away, he told her that he had some very sad news for her which he had heard from his chief astrologer. Astrologers, you know, are wise men, who are supposed to be able to read the secrets of the stars, and learn things from them which are hidden from ordinary human beings. Guna-Vara therefore did not doubt that what her husband was about to tell her was true, and she listened eagerly, her heart beating very fast in her fear that some trouble was coming to those she loved.

Great indeed was her sorrow and surprise, when Vira-Bhuja went on to say that the astrologer had told him that a terrible misfortune threatened him and his kingdom and the only way to prevent it was to shut Guna-Vara up in prison for the rest of her life. The poor queen could hardly believe that she had heard rightly. She knew she had done no wrong, and could not understand how putting her in prison could help anybody.
She was quite sure that her husband loved her, and no words could have expressed her pain at the thought of being sent away from him and her dear son. Yet she made no resistance, not even asking Vira-Bhuja to let her see Sringa-Bhuja again. She just bowed her beautiful head and said: "Be it unto me as my Lord wills. If he wishes my death, I am ready to lay down my life."
This submission made the king feel even more unhappy than before. He longed to take his wife in his arms and tell her he would never let her go; and perhaps if she had looked at him then, he would have seen all her love for him in her eyes, but she remained perfectly still with bowed head, waiting to hear what her fate was to be. Then the thought entered Vira-Bhuja's mind: "She is afraid to look at me: what Ayasolekha said was true."