Reading Comprehension

Which word is nearly the same in meaning as 'defile' as used in the passage?

Directions: Read the passage to answer the question given below.

Political education may be defined as the preparation of a citizen to take well informed, responsible and sustained action for participation in the national struggle for the realisation of the socio-economic objectives of the country. The overriding socio-economic objectives in India are the abolition of poverty and the creation of a modern democratic, secular and socialist society in place of the present traditional, feudal, hierarchical and inegalitarian one.

Under the British rule, the congress leaders argued that political education was an important part of education and refused to accept the official view that education and politics should not be mixed with one another. But when they came to power in 1947 they almost adopted the British policy and began to talk of education being defiled by politics. ‘Hands off education‘ was the call to political parties of that time. But in spite of it, political infiltration into the educational system has greatly increased in the sense that different parties vie with each other to capture the minds of teachers and students. The wise academicians wanted political support, without political interference. What we have actually received is infinite political interference. This interference with the educational system by political parties for their own ulterior motives is no political education at all; and with the all round growth of elitism, it is hardly surprising that real political education within the school system (which really means the creation of a commitment to social transformation) has been even weaker than in the pre-independence period.

At the same time, the freedom struggle came to an end and the major non-formal agency of political education disappeared. The press could and did provide some political education. But it did not utilise the opportunity to the fullest and the stranglehold of vested interests continued to dominate it. The same can be said about political parties as well as about other institutions and agencies outside the school system which can be expected to provide political education. All things considered, it appears that we have made no genuine progress in political education in the post independence period and even slid back in some respects. For instance, the education system has become even more elite-oriented. Patriotism has become the first casualty. Gandhiji gave us the courage to oppose the government when it was wrong, in a disciplined fashion and on basic principles. He believed the means to be as important as the ends and taught us to work among the poor people for mobilising and organising them. Today we have even lost the courage to fight on basic issues in a disciplined manner because agitation and anarchic politics for individual, group or party aggrandisement has become common. The education system of today continues to support domination of the privileged groups and domestication of the underprivileged ones. The situation will not change unless we take vigorous steps to provide genuine political education on an adequate scale. This is one of the major educational reforms we need; and if it is not carried out, mere linear expansion of the existing system of normal education will only support the status quo and hamper radical social transformation.

Who are the ‘priori philosophers’ in the passage?

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

With respect to the theory of the origin of the forms of life peopling our globe, with which Darwin's name is bound up as closely as that of Newton with the theory of gravitation, nothing seems to be further from the mind of the present generation than any attempt to smother it with ridicule or to crush it by vehemence of denunciation. The Struggle for Existence, and Natural Selection, have become household words and every-day conceptions. The reality and the importance of the natural processes on which Darwin founds his deductions are no more doubted than those of growth and multiplication; and, whether the full potency attributed to them is admitted or not, no one doubts their vast and far-reaching significance. 

Wherever the biological sciences are studied, the 'Origin of Species' lights the paths of the investigator; wherever they are taught it permeates the course of instruction. Nor has the influence of Darwinian ideas been less profound, beyond the realms of Biology. The oldest of all philosophies, that of Evolution, was bound hand and foot and cast into utter darkness during the millennium of theological scholasticism. But Darwin poured new life-blood into the ancient frame; the bonds burst, and the revivified thought of ancient Greece has proved itself to be adequate expression of the universal order of things.

To any one who studies the signs of the times, the emergence of the philosophy of Evolution, in the attitude of claimant to the throne of the world of thought, from the limbo of hated and, as many hoped, forgotten things, is the most portentous event of the nineteenth century. But the most effective weapons of the modern champions of Evolution were fabricated by Darwin; and the 'Origin of Species' has enlisted a formidable body of combatants, trained in the severe school of Physical Science, whose ears might have long remained deaf to the speculations of a priori philosophers.

Who/What are/is the “repository of venerable traditions”?

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

With respect to the theory of the origin of the forms of life peopling our globe, with which Darwin's name is bound up as closely as that of Newton with the theory of gravitation, nothing seems to be further from the mind of the present generation than any attempt to smother it with ridicule or to crush it by vehemence of denunciation. The Struggle for Existence, and Natural Selection, have become household words and every-day conceptions. The reality and the importance of the natural processes on which Darwin founds his deductions are no more doubted than those of growth and multiplication; and, whether the full potency attributed to them is admitted or not, no one doubts their vast and far-reaching significance. 

Wherever the biological sciences are studied, the 'Origin of Species' lights the paths of the investigator; wherever they are taught it permeates the course of instruction. Nor has the influence of Darwinian ideas been less profound, beyond the realms of Biology. The oldest of all philosophies, that of Evolution, was bound hand and foot and cast into utter darkness during the millennium of theological scholasticism. But Darwin poured new life-blood into the ancient frame; the bonds burst, and the revivified thought of ancient Greece has proved itself to be adequate expression of the universal order of things.

To any one who studies the signs of the times, the emergence of the philosophy of Evolution, in the attitude of claimant to the throne of the world of thought, from the limbo of hated and, as many hoped, forgotten things, is the most portentous event of the nineteenth century. But the most effective weapons of the modern champions of Evolution were fabricated by Darwin; and the 'Origin of Species' has enlisted a formidable body of combatants, trained in the severe school of Physical Science, whose ears might have long remained deaf to the speculations of a priori philosophers.

What does the author mean by the phrase, “….torture texts in the vain hope of making them confess the creed of Science”?

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

With respect to the theory of the origin of the forms of life peopling our globe, with which Darwin's name is bound up as closely as that of Newton with the theory of gravitation, nothing seems to be further from the mind of the present generation than any attempt to smother it with ridicule or to crush it by vehemence of denunciation. The Struggle for Existence, and Natural Selection, have become household words and every-day conceptions. The reality and the importance of the natural processes on which Darwin founds his deductions are no more doubted than those of growth and multiplication; and, whether the full potency attributed to them is admitted or not, no one doubts their vast and far-reaching significance. 

Wherever the biological sciences are studied, the 'Origin of Species' lights the paths of the investigator; wherever they are taught it permeates the course of instruction. Nor has the influence of Darwinian ideas been less profound, beyond the realms of Biology. The oldest of all philosophies, that of Evolution, was bound hand and foot and cast into utter darkness during the millennium of theological scholasticism. But Darwin poured new life-blood into the ancient frame; the bonds burst, and the revivified thought of ancient Greece has proved itself to be adequate expression of the universal order of things.

To any one who studies the signs of the times, the emergence of the philosophy of Evolution, in the attitude of claimant to the throne of the world of thought, from the limbo of hated and, as many hoped, forgotten things, is the most portentous event of the nineteenth century. But the most effective weapons of the modern champions of Evolution were fabricated by Darwin; and the 'Origin of Species' has enlisted a formidable body of combatants, trained in the severe school of Physical Science, whose ears might have long remained deaf to the speculations of a priori philosophers.

Which of the following options best illustrates the primary purpose of the passage?

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

With respect to the theory of the origin of the forms of life peopling our globe, with which Darwin's name is bound up as closely as that of Newton with the theory of gravitation, nothing seems to be further from the mind of the present generation than any attempt to smother it with ridicule or to crush it by vehemence of denunciation. The Struggle for Existence, and Natural Selection, have become household words and every-day conceptions. The reality and the importance of the natural processes on which Darwin founds his deductions are no more doubted than those of growth and multiplication; and, whether the full potency attributed to them is admitted or not, no one doubts their vast and far-reaching significance. 

Wherever the biological sciences are studied, the 'Origin of Species' lights the paths of the investigator; wherever they are taught it permeates the course of instruction. Nor has the influence of Darwinian ideas been less profound, beyond the realms of Biology. The oldest of all philosophies, that of Evolution, was bound hand and foot and cast into utter darkness during the millennium of theological scholasticism. But Darwin poured new life-blood into the ancient frame; the bonds burst, and the revivified thought of ancient Greece has proved itself to be adequate expression of the universal order of things.

To any one who studies the signs of the times, the emergence of the philosophy of Evolution, in the attitude of claimant to the throne of the world of thought, from the limbo of hated and, as many hoped, forgotten things, is the most portentous event of the nineteenth century. But the most effective weapons of the modern champions of Evolution were fabricated by Darwin; and the 'Origin of Species' has enlisted a formidable body of combatants, trained in the severe school of Physical Science, whose ears might have long remained deaf to the speculations of a priori philosophers.

Fire is a result of all of the following except :

passage 

Halons, a group of chlorofluorobromo ethane and methane derivatives, are exceptionally good fire extinguishing agents, which are effective and safe. Advanced countries realised the advantages of halon fire extinguishers in 1960s and standardised on Halons to replace Carbon dioxide, Methyl/Ethyl hromide, and other fire extinguishers.
Fire is a result of fuel, energy and oxygen. In order to extinguish fire, one or more of these elements will have to be removed. While conventional agents like carbon dioxide, DCP, water, sand, etc, put out fire only by means of creating physical barrier between the flames and the surrounding oxygen, , i.e. by amothering the fire, halons work in three ways: Physically cool the area, create a barrier between the flames and surrounding oxygen and chemically release bromine atoms in the heat of fire. These bromine atoms combine with reactive components of fire and thus kill the fire.
No real life falls into any single category as per standard classification, based on different materials involved in fire. The extinguishing medium then has to be effective against all classes of fire. Halons are most effective, among various fire extinguishers know, for all types of common fires, viz. Class A, B and C.
Several attributes of halons which contribute to its superiority over conventional agents are:
The versatility of halons I fighting all kinds of common fires makes it indispensable in several applications such as operation theatres, explosive factories, steel plants, oil refineries, etc.
Halons are safe upto 1,00,000 Volts. This non conductivity makes it ideal for cable galleries, thermal/nuclear power generating stations, transformer/oil switches, rotating equipment, etc.
The low toxicity of halons makes it essential for the areas which are normally occupied by human beings. For example. Telecommunications transmitting and receiving stations, telephone exchange, control rooms, air control towers, T.V. centres, X-rays rooms, railways, etc.
Halons leave no residue after use and hence do not damage the documents and valuable properties. Hence it becomes most suitable for locations, having objects of high value such as computer rooms, delicate electronic equipment, radar stations, museums, archives, libraries, stock exchanges , banks, press/mints, etc.
Halons are more effective and thus are capable of rapid and complete extinguishing of fires at low concentrations. For example. Halon 1211 is 2.5 times more effective than carbon dioxide. As a result, it is a solution for fires in aircraft, tanks, armoured carriers, motor vehicles, ships, submarines, etc.
Halons being light weight with an extremely low freezing point, it is the ideal fire extinguisher at high altitudes and also at places where the availability of water and space is limited. Halons also permit clear vision during fire fighting operations.
Commensurate with halons\\' superior fire fighting capabilities, developed countries have so far produced 2,95,000 MTs of halons during the last 30 years, and still continue to do so. Infact 1,40,000 MTs of halons have been banked to meet the critical and strategic requirements in developed countries when the manufacture of halons will be phased out.
Halons, the best fire extinguisher known to mankind, is criticised for its ozone depleting potential and is a controlled substance under the Montreal Protocol, leading to its phase out in the near future.
However, India being a developing country, Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol gives it a grace period of ten years, and hence India will be allowed to use it for all applications till 2010 A..D., and thereafter for all essential used till a suitable alternative is made available. As per the Montreal Protocol, India is allowed to use 40,000 TPA of Halons, but it is expected to have a production of 2,300 TPA in the period of 1995-97, which forms the base year as per the Protocol.
Halons entered the India Fire Services (Defence and Civil)are slowly in the early\\' 80s. If the statutes of the Montreal Protocol are not tapped, a combination of two things detrimental to the country would occur i.e. damage due to fire being fought by inefficient fire fighting, loss of life and loss of costly installations, and needless import of costly substitutes on large scale.

Which of the following questions cannot be answered by a reading of the article?

passage 

Halons, a group of chlorofluorobromo ethane and methane derivatives, are exceptionally good fire extinguishing agents, which are effective and safe. Advanced countries realised the advantages of halon fire extinguishers in 1960s and standardised on Halons to replace Carbon dioxide, Methyl/Ethyl hromide, and other fire extinguishers.
Fire is a result of fuel, energy and oxygen. In order to extinguish fire, one or more of these elements will have to be removed. While conventional agents like carbon dioxide, DCP, water, sand, etc, put out fire only by means of creating physical barrier between the flames and the surrounding oxygen, , i.e. by amothering the fire, halons work in three ways: Physically cool the area, create a barrier between the flames and surrounding oxygen and chemically release bromine atoms in the heat of fire. These bromine atoms combine with reactive components of fire and thus kill the fire.
No real life falls into any single category as per standard classification, based on different materials involved in fire. The extinguishing medium then has to be effective against all classes of fire. Halons are most effective, among various fire extinguishers know, for all types of common fires, viz. Class A, B and C.
Several attributes of halons which contribute to its superiority over conventional agents are:
The versatility of halons I fighting all kinds of common fires makes it indispensable in several applications such as operation theatres, explosive factories, steel plants, oil refineries, etc.
Halons are safe upto 1,00,000 Volts. This non conductivity makes it ideal for cable galleries, thermal/nuclear power generating stations, transformer/oil switches, rotating equipment, etc.
The low toxicity of halons makes it essential for the areas which are normally occupied by human beings. For example. Telecommunications transmitting and receiving stations, telephone exchange, control rooms, air control towers, T.V. centres, X-rays rooms, railways, etc.
Halons leave no residue after use and hence do not damage the documents and valuable properties. Hence it becomes most suitable for locations, having objects of high value such as computer rooms, delicate electronic equipment, radar stations, museums, archives, libraries, stock exchanges , banks, press/mints, etc.
Halons are more effective and thus are capable of rapid and complete extinguishing of fires at low concentrations. For example. Halon 1211 is 2.5 times more effective than carbon dioxide. As a result, it is a solution for fires in aircraft, tanks, armoured carriers, motor vehicles, ships, submarines, etc.
Halons being light weight with an extremely low freezing point, it is the ideal fire extinguisher at high altitudes and also at places where the availability of water and space is limited. Halons also permit clear vision during fire fighting operations.
Commensurate with halons\\' superior fire fighting capabilities, developed countries have so far produced 2,95,000 MTs of halons during the last 30 years, and still continue to do so. Infact 1,40,000 MTs of halons have been banked to meet the critical and strategic requirements in developed countries when the manufacture of halons will be phased out.
Halons, the best fire extinguisher known to mankind, is criticised for its ozone depleting potential and is a controlled substance under the Montreal Protocol, leading to its phase out in the near future.
However, India being a developing country, Article 5 of the Montreal Protocol gives it a grace period of ten years, and hence India will be allowed to use it for all applications till 2010 A..D., and thereafter for all essential used till a suitable alternative is made available. As per the Montreal Protocol, India is allowed to use 40,000 TPA of Halons, but it is expected to have a production of 2,300 TPA in the period of 1995-97, which forms the base year as per the Protocol.
Halons entered the India Fire Services (Defence and Civil)are slowly in the early\\' 80s. If the statutes of the Montreal Protocol are not tapped, a combination of two things detrimental to the country would occur i.e. damage due to fire being fought by inefficient fire fighting, loss of life and loss of costly installations, and needless import of costly substitutes on large scale.

What is meant by the expression 'proper street behaviour' in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the given question:

One of the most potent elements in body language is eye behaviour. You shift your eyes, meet another person's gaze or fail to meet it and produce an effect out of proportion to the trifling muscular effort you have made. When two people look searchingly into each other's eyes, emotions are heightened and the relationship tips towards greater intimacy.
In normal conversation, each eye contact lasts only about a second before one or both individuals look away. Because the longer meeting of the eyes is rare, it is weighed with significance when it happens and can generate a special kind of human-to-human awareness. Most of the time, a lingering look is inter­preted as a sign of attraction and this should be scru­pulously avoided except in appropriate circumstances. A young woman once complained. ‘That man makes me so uncomfortable, half the time when I glance at him he's already looking at me - and he keeps right on looking.'
Proper street behaviour requires a balance of at­tention and intention. You are supposed to look at a passer-by just enough to show that you are aware of his presence. If you look too little, you appear haughty or furtive; too much and you are inquisitive. Usually what happens is that people eye each other until they are about eight feet apart, at which point both cast their eyes down.

As per the author, the muscular effort we make is

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the given question:

One of the most potent elements in body language is eye behaviour. You shift your eyes, meet another person's gaze or fail to meet it and produce an effect out of proportion to the trifling muscular effort you have made. When two people look searchingly into each other's eyes, emotions are heightened and the relationship tips towards greater intimacy.
In normal conversation, each eye contact lasts only about a second before one or both individuals look away. Because the longer meeting of the eyes is rare, it is weighed with significance when it happens and can generate a special kind of human-to-human awareness. Most of the time, a lingering look is inter­preted as a sign of attraction and this should be scru­pulously avoided except in appropriate circumstances. A young woman once complained. ‘That man makes me so uncomfortable, half the time when I glance at him he's already looking at me - and he keeps right on looking.'
Proper street behaviour requires a balance of at­tention and intention. You are supposed to look at a passer-by just enough to show that you are aware of his presence. If you look too little, you appear haughty or furtive; too much and you are inquisitive. Usually what happens is that people eye each other until they are about eight feet apart, at which point both cast their eyes down.

Mandela revered an ideal of ________.

Direction: Read the following passage and the question.

In 1961, Nelson Mandela co-founded and became the first leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe (“Spear of the Nation”), also known as MK, a new armed wing of the ANC. Several years later, during the trial that would put him behind bars for nearly three decades, he described the reason for this radical departure from his party’s original tenets: “[I]t would be wrong and unrealistic for African leaders to continue preaching peace and nonviolence at a time when the government met our peaceful demands with force. It was only when all else had failed, when all channels of peaceful protest had been barred to us, that the decision was made to embark on violent forms of political struggle. ”Under Mandela’s leadership, MK launched a sabotage campaign against the government, which had recently declared South Africa a republic and withdrawn from the British Commonwealth. In January 1962, Mandela traveled abroad illegally to attend a conference of African nationalist leaders in Ethiopia, visit the exiled Oliver Tambo in London and undergo guerilla training in Algeria. On August 5, shortly after his return, he was arrested and subsequently sentenced to five years in prison for leaving the country and inciting the 1961 workers’ strike. The following July, police raided an ANC hideout in Rivonia, a suburb on the outskirts of Johannesburg, and arrested a racially diverse group of MK leaders who had gathered to debate the merits of a guerilla insurgency. Evidence was found implicating Mandela and other activists, who were brought to stand trial for sabotage, treason and violent conspiracy. Mandela and seven other defendants narrowly escaped the gallows and were instead sentenced to life imprisonment during the so-called Rivonia Trial, which lasted eight months and attracted substantial international attention. In a stirring opening statement that sealed his iconic status around the world, Mandela admitted to some of the charges against him while defending the ANC’s actions and denouncing the injustices of apartheid. He ended with the following words: “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”

Prolonged eye contact between two individuals is weighed with great significance because

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the given question:

One of the most potent elements in body language is eye behaviour. You shift your eyes, meet another person's gaze or fail to meet it and produce an effect out of proportion to the trifling muscular effort you have made. When two people look searchingly into each other's eyes, emotions are heightened and the relationship tips towards greater intimacy.
In normal conversation, each eye contact lasts only about a second before one or both individuals look away. Because the longer meeting of the eyes is rare, it is weighed with significance when it happens and can generate a special kind of human-to-human awareness. Most of the time, a lingering look is inter­preted as a sign of attraction and this should be scru­pulously avoided except in appropriate circumstances. A young woman once complained. ‘That man makes me so uncomfortable, half the time when I glance at him he's already looking at me - and he keeps right on looking.'
Proper street behaviour requires a balance of at­tention and intention. You are supposed to look at a passer-by just enough to show that you are aware of his presence. If you look too little, you appear haughty or furtive; too much and you are inquisitive. Usually what happens is that people eye each other until they are about eight feet apart, at which point both cast their eyes down.

The young woman in the passage was uncomfortable because

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the given question:

One of the most potent elements in body language is eye behaviour. You shift your eyes, meet another person's gaze or fail to meet it and produce an effect out of proportion to the trifling muscular effort you have made. When two people look searchingly into each other's eyes, emotions are heightened and the relationship tips towards greater intimacy.
In normal conversation, each eye contact lasts only about a second before one or both individuals look away. Because the longer meeting of the eyes is rare, it is weighed with significance when it happens and can generate a special kind of human-to-human awareness. Most of the time, a lingering look is inter­preted as a sign of attraction and this should be scru­pulously avoided except in appropriate circumstances. A young woman once complained. ‘That man makes me so uncomfortable, half the time when I glance at him he's already looking at me - and he keeps right on looking.'
Proper street behaviour requires a balance of at­tention and intention. You are supposed to look at a passer-by just enough to show that you are aware of his presence. If you look too little, you appear haughty or furtive; too much and you are inquisitive. Usually what happens is that people eye each other until they are about eight feet apart, at which point both cast their eyes down.

Mandela was arrested and sentenced to five year imprisonment for _________.

Direction: Read the following passage and the question.

In 1961, Nelson Mandela co-founded and became the first leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe (“Spear of the Nation”), also known as MK, a new armed wing of the ANC. Several years later, during the trial that would put him behind bars for nearly three decades, he described the reason for this radical departure from his party’s original tenets: “[I]t would be wrong and unrealistic for African leaders to continue preaching peace and nonviolence at a time when the government met our peaceful demands with force. It was only when all else had failed, when all channels of peaceful protest had been barred to us, that the decision was made to embark on violent forms of political struggle. ”Under Mandela’s leadership, MK launched a sabotage campaign against the government, which had recently declared South Africa a republic and withdrawn from the British Commonwealth. In January 1962, Mandela traveled abroad illegally to attend a conference of African nationalist leaders in Ethiopia, visit the exiled Oliver Tambo in London and undergo guerilla training in Algeria. On August 5, shortly after his return, he was arrested and subsequently sentenced to five years in prison for leaving the country and inciting the 1961 workers’ strike. The following July, police raided an ANC hideout in Rivonia, a suburb on the outskirts of Johannesburg, and arrested a racially diverse group of MK leaders who had gathered to debate the merits of a guerilla insurgency. Evidence was found implicating Mandela and other activists, who were brought to stand trial for sabotage, treason and violent conspiracy. Mandela and seven other defendants narrowly escaped the gallows and were instead sentenced to life imprisonment during the so-called Rivonia Trial, which lasted eight months and attracted substantial international attention. In a stirring opening statement that sealed his iconic status around the world, Mandela admitted to some of the charges against him while defending the ANC’s actions and denouncing the injustices of apartheid. He ended with the following words: “I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.”