Read the passages given below and answer the questions that follow:

Passage 1:
We must do all we can to stop conflicts and civil war. Most conflicts happen in poor countries, especially which are badly governed or where power and wealth are not distributed fairly between different tribal or religious groups. So the best way to check fighting is to make a political arrangement in which all groups have their representatives. The need is to ensure human rights and economic development of all.
The next fundamental freedom is one that is not mentioned in the UN charter. In 1945, the leaders could not imagine that such a situation would arise. That is the freedom of future generations to live on this planet.
Even now many of us have not understood its importance. We are using up the limited resources for our present use. We are over using and even wasting them. We are, in fact, robbing our children of their right to live.
We must preserve our forests, fisheries and wildlife. All of these are collapsing because of our own habit of consuming or destroying them.
Questions:

1. Answer the following questions briefly:
   (a) Why do most conflicts happen in poor countries?
   (b) What is the best way to check conflicts?
   (c) What is meant by ‘the freedom of future generations to live’?
   (d) How are we robbing our children of their basic right?
   (e) What must we preserve for our children?
2. Find words from the passage that mean the same as
   (a) fighting
   (b) keep safely
   (c) coming to end

Аnswers:

1.

(a) Most conflicts happen in poor countries because they are generally badly governed.
(b) The best way to check conflicts is to make a political arrangement in which all groups have their representatives.
(c) It means- the right of the coming generation to live.
(d) We are using up the limited resources for our present use. Thus, we are doing injustice to the future generations.
(e) We must save our forest and fisheries for use by our great grandchildren.

2.

(a) conflict
(b) preserve
(c) collapsing

Passage 2:
Food can maintain and save life. It can destroy life as well. Proper food serves as medicine, improper food works as poison. A little care about the quality and quantity of food will keep us healthy and happy. If we go about eating all sorts of things, we shall become sick.

We take pride in calling ourselves civilized. Being sensible means to know the difference between good and bad, right and wrong. It will not do to become slaves to our tongue or taste. Even cattle, birds and beasts eat only what is best for their body.

We mostly eat processed food and refined sugar. We pay heavily for junk food, for Chinese dishes or deep fried snacks. As a result we catch diseases. We have drifted away from mother nature. We laugh at the rules of hygiene, healthy diet and the advice of our elders. This has given rise to diabetes.
We offer chocolates, cakes and ice creams too often to our children. We also attend parties or dine out every day. This way we invite obesity and diabetes.
Questions:

1. Answer the following questions briefly:
   (a) What are the functions of food?
   (b) What is meant by ‘improper food’?
   (c) What does ‘civilised life’ imply?
   (d) Explain: We have drifted away from nature.
   (e) How does modem life style and food habits affect us?
2. Find words from the passage that mean the same as:
   (a) being fat
   (b) cleanliness

Аnswers:

1. (a) Food maintains and saves life.
   (b) Food which is of poor quality and has harmful effect on the body.
   (c) Being civilised means – to know what is right and what is wrong.
   (d) Our lifestyle has pushed us away from nature.
   (e) We don’t follow the rules of hygiene and healthy diet. We eat processed, fried or junk food.
2. (a) obesity
   (b) hygiene

Passage 3:
The cinema is the cheapest source of entertainment today. Millions of people see movies and enjoy them. It is a good pastime in all the places – big or small.
The cinema industry has made rapid progress after independence. In the beginning there were silent, and black and white movies. Now we are dazzled by the colours in every movie.
Big posters are seen on the walls of cities and towns for advertisements. They also announce the coming movies in the city. There is always a rush before the booking windows. So the tickets are often sold in the black market or at a premium.
On the one hand the cinema is a source of entertainment. On the other it is also a source of knowledge and information. Films satisfy all the sections of people and their different tastes.
There are religious movies and historical movies. They recreate the past, the old culture and lifestyle. Social films spread awareness about social evils of dowry, casteism and communal feelings. Some films expose the corruption in high places among the policemen and the citizens.
Questions:

1. Answer the following questions briefly:
   (a) Why is cinema so much popular?
   (b) How can you say that the cinema industry has made rapid progress after independence?
   (c) Why are tickets often sold in the black market?
   (d) Mention two advantages of cinema.
   (e) What is the main purpose of making social films?
2. Find words from the above passage which mean the opposite to:
   (a) costliest
   (b) slow
   (c) present
   (d) hide.

Аnswers:

1.

(a) Cinema is so much popular because it is the cheapest means of recreation. It is a good posture.
(b) Earlier there were silent, and black and white movies. Now we are dazzled by the colours in the movies. One can see big posters on the wall of cities and towns.
(c) Tickets are often sold in the black market because there is always a huge rush before the booking windows.
(d)
• Cinema is a source of entertainment.
• It is also a source of knowledge and information.
(e) The main purpose of making social films is to spread awareness about social evils of dowry, casteism and communal feelings.

2.

(a) cheapest
(b) rapid
(c) past
(d) expose.

Passage 4:
Do you know that around 270 eucalyptus trees or 460 bamboo plants are saved when we produce one tonne of hand-made paper? It is ecofriendly hand-made paper that also checks pollution of water, land and air. Large quantities of polluting chemicals are used by paper mills.
Hand-made paper is the best form of recycled paper. It has a fine surface for writing. It is also strong enough for making drawings.
Paper manufacturing is a very old tradition. It was invented in China nearly two thousand years back. Indians used the leaves of palm trees for writing. Papyrus is a kind of paper made from a reed of the same name. It grew on the banks of the River Nile, and was used in Egypt.
The hand-made paper industry flourished in India during the Mughal period. But it died with the setting up of paper mills in the 18th and 19th centuries. Mahatma Gandhi revived it during the freedom movement. Today it is a fast growing industry.
Questions:

1. Answer the following questions briefly:
   (a) Why is hand-made paper becoming more and more popular?
   (b) Mention two features of hand-made paper.
   (c) What did Indians use for writing when there was no paper?
   (d) What is papyrus?
   (e) Why did the hand-made paper industry die in India in the 18th and 19th centuries?
2. Find words from the above passage that mean the same as:
   (a) control
   (b) prospered
   (c) bring back to life.

Аnswers:

1.

(a) Hand-made paper is becoming more and more popular because it is eco-friendly and checks pollution of water, land and air.
(b)
• It has a fine surface for writing.
• It is also strong enough for making drawings.
(c) They used the leaves of palm trees.
(d) Papyrus is a kind of paper made from a reed.
(e) Hand-made paper industry died in India in the 18th and 19th centuries because paper mills got established.

2.

(a) check
(b) flourished
(c) revive

Passage 5:
Conversation is a fine art. It is the art of exchanging thought. It is an art which anybody can cultivate or master. Not everybody can paint or play music, but almost everyone can talk. Thus it affords the greatest pleasure to the greatest number. ‘To talk”, says R.L. Sleversan, “is our chief business in the world. And talk is by far the most accessible of pleasures. It costs nothing in money, it is all profit. It completes our education, makes friends and can be enjoyed at any age. Conversation is indeed the most teachable of all the arts. All you need to do is to find a subject that interests you and your listeners.
Hobbies are for example, numberless hobbies to talk about. But the important thing is that you must talk about the other fellow’s hobby rather than your own. Therein lies the secret of your popularity. There is nothing that pleases people so much as your interest in their interest.
It is just as important to know what subjects to avoid and what subjects to select for good conversation. If you don’t want to be set down as a bore, avoid certain unpleasant topics. Avoid talking about yourself unless you are asked to do so. Sickness or death bores everybody. The only one who willingly listens to such talk is, the doctor, but he gets paid for it. You must also know not only what to say but also how to say it.
Questions:

1. Answer the following questions briefly:
   (a) How does the author define and explain the art of conversation?
   (b) How is talking easier to learn than other fine arts?
   (c) What are the subjects one can easily talk about?
   (d) Which topics usually bore the listener?
   (e) What should be avoided unless you are asked to do so?
2. Find out words from the above passage similar in meaning to the following:
   (a) acquire or develop
   (b) within reach
   (c) make happy.

Аnswers:

1.

(a) Conversation is a fine art easier to learn and within everybody’s reach.
(b) It is easier to become a good talker than a master painter or musician.
(c) One can easily talk about hobbies of the listener
(d) One should avoid discussing unpleasant topics like sickness or death
(e) Avoid talking about yourself unless you are asked to do so.

2.

(a) cultivate
(b) accessible
(c) please.

Passage 6:
There was a time when all house-work was done by the women or girls of the household. Few husbands ever dreamt of washing up, preparing breakfast or tending the baby. Such duties were no concern of theirs. And normal school boy assumed that if help were needed in the home, his sisters would be called on to give it. The whole family supported the view that the male child could not or should not clean, mend, wash, cook or make beds.
Things are very different today. Doctors or barristers find nothing shameful in putting on an apron to help in the kitchen or nursery and even boast of being good at washing of clothes and personal linen.
The school boy is more often now than formerly expected to help his mother. One reason for the change is the shortage of domestic servants. Girls could once be found to do the hard work in middle and upper class homes for very moderate wages. Such girls nowadays work in factories. They earn more money than most householders can afford to pay. Thus the wife now does the househeld work herself with the aid of labour saving machines; and she expects some help from her husband.
Questions:

1. Answer the following questions briefly:
   (a) Who usually did all house work in the past?
   (b) Mention some household chores that women use to do in their house.
   (c) How did the whole family view the male child?
   (d) How are things different now?
   (e) Mention one reason that has brought this change today?
2. Find words from the above passage that mean the same as:
   (a) taking care of
   (b) took for granted
   (c) talk proudly
   (d) not excessive
   (e) hopes

Аnswers:

1.

(a) In the past all house work was usually done by women or girls.
(b) Washing clothes, preparing breakfast and tending the baby.
(c) The whole family thought that the male child could not or should not clean, mind, wash, cook or make beds.
(d) Today even doctors and lawyers help in the kitchen or nursery.
(e) The shortage of domestic servants has brought this change.

2.

(a) tending
(b) assumed
(c) boast
(d) moderate
(e) expects.