Reading Comprehension

What can be the best title of the passage?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

However romantic the concept of self government might be, the reality is as grim as it was a decade ago. Power to the people has been a lip service, a mere slogan. If anything, the Panchayat System has virtually legitimised the exploitation of the rural elite, barring, of course, in a few states like West Bengal and Karnataka.

No one is blind to the fact that the scheduled caste members are made to sit separately in panchayat meetings, that the poorest of the poor is never identified and the benefits go to the preferred ones. So vicious is the trap that no law from Delhi can undo it overnight. Instead of mere legislation, however well-intentioned it may be, what is needed is political education and general awareness. The villager must be given scope for critical thinking on his environment. This is possible through his initiation into the understanding of the system he is a victim of.

The concept of community control must be replaced by community participation which would free the villager of unnecessary political and bureaucratic interference and give him a sense of belonging to the village property. Unless the Panchayati Raj builds up into a truly people’s movement backed by a willing community, the vested interests will stifle the rare lone voice of resistance.

What is the meaning of the word 'seminal' in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:

History would suggest that once every couple of generations there is a “cleansing cycle” that occurs within the financial markets, society, and even within humanity as a whole. Financial institutions collapse, diseases rage, locusts fly, hailstones fall, earthquakes increase, volcanoes rumble, sunspots explode out from our heat source, wars breakout all over and despotism reigns supreme. We appear to be entering one of these historic cycles at this seminal point in the maturation of the human race. Almost as if the entire planet is vibrating out of control, has some kind of harmonic resonance pushed us out of kilter, like we are getting disconnected from our core and spiralling out of control? Maybe it’s our collective lack of moral backbone precipitating these events, as historically, such perilous times tend to follow a period of wild excess. The last time this happened was in the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s. It started with the Wall Street Crash of 1929, and then it moved through to the Great Depression and ended beyond World War II. The question is: is it cyclically returning?

Which of the following may be concluded from the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:

History would suggest that once every couple of generations there is a “cleansing cycle” that occurs within the financial markets, society, and even within humanity as a whole. Financial institutions collapse, diseases rage, locusts fly, hailstones fall, earthquakes increase, volcanoes rumble, sunspots explode out from our heat source, wars breakout all over and despotism reigns supreme. We appear to be entering one of these historic cycles at this seminal point in the maturation of the human race. Almost as if the entire planet is vibrating out of control, has some kind of harmonic resonance pushed us out of kilter, like we are getting disconnected from our core and spiralling out of control? Maybe it’s our collective lack of moral backbone precipitating these events, as historically, such perilous times tend to follow a period of wild excess. The last time this happened was in the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s. It started with the Wall Street Crash of 1929, and then it moved through to the Great Depression and ended beyond World War II. The question is: is it cyclically returning?

Does the author welcome community control?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

However romantic the concept of self government might be, the reality is as grim as it was a decade ago. Power to the people has been a lip service, a mere slogan. If anything, the Panchayat System has virtually legitimised the exploitation of the rural elite, barring, of course, in a few states like West Bengal and Karnataka.

No one is blind to the fact that the scheduled caste members are made to sit separately in panchayat meetings, that the poorest of the poor is never identified and the benefits go to the preferred ones. So vicious is the trap that no law from Delhi can undo it overnight. Instead of mere legislation, however well-intentioned it may be, what is needed is political education and general awareness. The villager must be given scope for critical thinking on his environment. This is possible through his initiation into the understanding of the system he is a victim of.

The concept of community control must be replaced by community participation which would free the villager of unnecessary political and bureaucratic interference and give him a sense of belonging to the village property. Unless the Panchayati Raj builds up into a truly people’s movement backed by a willing community, the vested interests will stifle the rare lone voice of resistance.

To whom do the benefits of the Panchayati Raj go?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

However romantic the concept of self government might be, the reality is as grim as it was a decade ago. Power to the people has been a lip service, a mere slogan. If anything, the Panchayat System has virtually legitimised the exploitation of the rural elite, barring, of course, in a few states like West Bengal and Karnataka.

No one is blind to the fact that the scheduled caste members are made to sit separately in panchayat meetings, that the poorest of the poor is never identified and the benefits go to the preferred ones. So vicious is the trap that no law from Delhi can undo it overnight. Instead of mere legislation, however well-intentioned it may be, what is needed is political education and general awareness. The villager must be given scope for critical thinking on his environment. This is possible through his initiation into the understanding of the system he is a victim of.

The concept of community control must be replaced by community participation which would free the villager of unnecessary political and bureaucratic interference and give him a sense of belonging to the village property. Unless the Panchayati Raj builds up into a truly people’s movement backed by a willing community, the vested interests will stifle the rare lone voice of resistance.

Community participation will result in

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

However romantic the concept of self government might be, the reality is as grim as it was a decade ago. Power to the people has been a lip service, a mere slogan. If anything, the Panchayat System has virtually legitimised the exploitation of the rural elite, barring, of course, in a few states like West Bengal and Karnataka.

No one is blind to the fact that the scheduled caste members are made to sit separately in panchayat meetings, that the poorest of the poor is never identified and the benefits go to the preferred ones. So vicious is the trap that no law from Delhi can undo it overnight. Instead of mere legislation, however well-intentioned it may be, what is needed is political education and general awareness. The villager must be given scope for critical thinking on his environment. This is possible through his initiation into the understanding of the system he is a victim of.

The concept of community control must be replaced by community participation which would free the villager of unnecessary political and bureaucratic interference and give him a sense of belonging to the village property. Unless the Panchayati Raj builds up into a truly people’s movement backed by a willing community, the vested interests will stifle the rare lone voice of resistance.

What is the author's tone in the passage?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

A question which is causing considerable concern and perplexity to many men of science is what is their social duty towards the new world they have been creating? In his professional moments, the pure man of science takes it for granted that the advancement of knowledge is desirable. But the men who ultimately become privileged to decide what use will be made of the new techniques are mainly politicians whose professional skill consists in playing upon the emotions of the masses. The man of science begins to feel in moments of depression that the world would be a better place if science did not exist. Should he on this account regard himself as an unintending malefactor? I do not think so.

The scientist feels depressed because of

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

A question which is causing considerable concern and perplexity to many men of science is what is their social duty towards the new world they have been creating? In his professional moments, the pure man of science takes it for granted that the advancement of knowledge is desirable. But the men who ultimately become privileged to decide what use will be made of the new techniques are mainly politicians whose professional skill consists in playing upon the emotions of the masses. The man of science begins to feel in moments of depression that the world would be a better place if science did not exist. Should he on this account regard himself as an unintending malefactor? I do not think so.

The modern scientist according to the author

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

A question which is causing considerable concern and perplexity to many men of science is what is their social duty towards the new world they have been creating? In his professional moments, the pure man of science takes it for granted that the advancement of knowledge is desirable. But the men who ultimately become privileged to decide what use will be made of the new techniques are mainly politicians whose professional skill consists in playing upon the emotions of the masses. The man of science begins to feel in moments of depression that the world would be a better place if science did not exist. Should he on this account regard himself as an unintending malefactor? I do not think so.

What is the meaning of the word 'malefactor'?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

A question which is causing considerable concern and perplexity to many men of science is what is their social duty towards the new world they have been creating? In his professional moments, the pure man of science takes it for granted that the advancement of knowledge is desirable. But the men who ultimately become privileged to decide what use will be made of the new techniques are mainly politicians whose professional skill consists in playing upon the emotions of the masses. The man of science begins to feel in moments of depression that the world would be a better place if science did not exist. Should he on this account regard himself as an unintending malefactor? I do not think so.

Professional moments are

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

A question which is causing considerable concern and perplexity to many men of science is what is their social duty towards the new world they have been creating? In his professional moments, the pure man of science takes it for granted that the advancement of knowledge is desirable. But the men who ultimately become privileged to decide what use will be made of the new techniques are mainly politicians whose professional skill consists in playing upon the emotions of the masses. The man of science begins to feel in moments of depression that the world would be a better place if science did not exist. Should he on this account regard himself as an unintending malefactor? I do not think so.

Which of the following statements is true as per the passage?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

A question which is causing considerable concern and perplexity to many men of science is what is their social duty towards the new world they have been creating? In his professional moments, the pure man of science takes it for granted that the advancement of knowledge is desirable. But the men who ultimately become privileged to decide what use will be made of the new techniques are mainly politicians whose professional skill consists in playing upon the emotions of the masses. The man of science begins to feel in moments of depression that the world would be a better place if science did not exist. Should he on this account regard himself as an unintending malefactor? I do not think so.

Which country has similar situation like ours?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

Why do couples hanker after male progeny? They believe that the female child will be a liability, that they will have to provide dowry for her. A male child on the other hand, they believe, will look after them in their old age. If the government takes care of these two aspects of the problem, the issue of sex determination will automatically disappear. In Muslim countries like Malaysia and Brunei, which I have visited, I found female children were welcome. This is perfectly understandable. They don’t practice dowry. On the contrary, they take ‘bride price’ for their girls.

I think the hue and cry over pre-selection is unnecessary. After all, there is no 100 percent foolproof technique to ensure male progeny. It is only conception with the Y chromosome or male factor gaining ascendancy during fertilisation which allows the possibility of a male offspring. Couples who would like to exercise the option and try their luck should be allowed to do so.

In western countries, they don’t face this problem because they do not have to confront issues like dowry. Of course, in eastern countries like China, Bangladesh and Pakistan, the situation is somewhat similar to ours.

Can people surely have a child of their own choice with modern techniques?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

Why do couples hanker after male progeny? They believe that the female child will be a liability, that they will have to provide dowry for her. A male child on the other hand, they believe, will look after them in their old age. If the government takes care of these two aspects of the problem, the issue of sex determination will automatically disappear. In Muslim countries like Malaysia and Brunei, which I have visited, I found female children were welcome. This is perfectly understandable. They don’t practice dowry. On the contrary, they take ‘bride price’ for their girls.

I think the hue and cry over pre-selection is unnecessary. After all, there is no 100 percent foolproof technique to ensure male progeny. It is only conception with the Y chromosome or male factor gaining ascendancy during fertilisation which allows the possibility of a male offspring. Couples who would like to exercise the option and try their luck should be allowed to do so.

In western countries, they don’t face this problem because they do not have to confront issues like dowry. Of course, in eastern countries like China, Bangladesh and Pakistan, the situation is somewhat similar to ours.

What is the meaning of 'progeny'?

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.

Why do couples hanker after male progeny? They believe that the female child will be a liability, that they will have to provide dowry for her. A male child on the other hand, they believe, will look after them in their old age. If the government takes care of these two aspects of the problem, the issue of sex determination will automatically disappear. In Muslim countries like Malaysia and Brunei, which I have visited, I found female children were welcome. This is perfectly understandable. They don’t practice dowry. On the contrary, they take ‘bride price’ for their girls.

I think the hue and cry over pre-selection is unnecessary. After all, there is no 100 percent foolproof technique to ensure male progeny. It is only conception with the Y chromosome or male factor gaining ascendancy during fertilisation which allows the possibility of a male offspring. Couples who would like to exercise the option and try their luck should be allowed to do so.

In western countries, they don’t face this problem because they do not have to confront issues like dowry. Of course, in eastern countries like China, Bangladesh and Pakistan, the situation is somewhat similar to ours.