Reading Comprehension

Comprehension means understanding or perception. The following points are to be carefully noted while attempting questions for comprehension.

1. Go through the passage carefully and arrive at the general idea of the subject the passage presents.
2. Read a second time to get a better understanding of the passage.
3. Arrive at the meaning of difficult words by relating them to the preceding and following sentences.
4. Underline only those parts which may help you in answering the questions.
5. Read the questions carefully.
6. Answer precisely using simple language.
7. Your answer must be correct and to the point.
8. The language of your answers should be grammatically correct. It must be simple, clear but spontaneous and effective.
9. Check your spellings and punctuations.
10. Don’t forget that you are not to copy the language of the passage. You will be given full credit only when you answer the questions in your own language.
11. Answers should reveal your understanding of the passage.
12. Never forget to revise your answers.

Comprehension Passages (Solved)

Q1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: 12

1. As you approach your career goals, you feel the need of having skill in making presentations. These presentations open the door to a brighter, bigger and more prestigious career. This works in two ways: they open the closed avenues and also bigger ones for those who are already in the queue. These will lead them up the pole of success, promotion and prosperity.

2. These attempts should not be taken carelessly or casually because they put you on the path of realization of your ambition.

3. As in many other spheres, marketing yourself for a job in a career stream too needs your meticulous attention and preparation. This also shows your inner urges; how you look at your job, your long term career perspectives and the ultimate result from it.

4. Failing to prepare is preparing to fail! This should be your guideline. There is no reason to fear making a presentation i f one is aptly prepared for it. Plodding is not enough to create an impression and get a concept approved. You have to be able to inform and convince others to get their approval. This is where your presentation skills come into play. Absence of these skills mars your chances.

5. Genuine preparation is the first step. This begins with mental readiness and storing the mind with sufficient relevant matter. An empty mind cannot deliver the goods. Fill the mind with ideas, concepts, facts and figures. You will have a lot of material for presentation.

6. Add to your information base. When your research base is extensive, you can select the best for the presentation. Conduct research through books, magazines, newspapers and publications, interviews, informal chats and letters exchanged with experts in the field.

7. The presentation will be most appreciated when you are able to give the audience something new, more than what it already knows. Add some new slants.

8. Find a presentation with an action point to make it more persuasive. If you know who is going to form the majority of your audience you can tailor to make your presentation to suit it. Make every effort to hit the bull’s eye.

9. Begin by stating the purpose and providing a preview of what will be created. The preview should be a quick summary of the outline of what is going to follow. Arouse curiosity and anticipation.

10. Go through the outline point by point. Be sure to cover every topic promised in the preview. In the end sum up your points briefly, but effectively. Think of some punch lines. Arrange your material in a logical sequence. Put down one idea or one piece of information and carefully link it to the next. One technique you can employ is the use of semantic bridges. For example, “Amazingly, Interestingly” can be put before the sentence runs its own course. The duration is dependent on the nature of the topic, its importance, relevance to a particular situation and audience. The main aim is to express as well as to impress.

I. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions by choosing the best of the given choices. 6
 
(а) When do you feel the need of making presentations? 1

(i) When you start your working life
(ii) When you wish to apply for a new job
(iii) When you are at the senior most level
(iv) When you wish to improve your current senior position

(b) Why should presentations be taken carefully and not casually? 1

(i) because a presentation is made before many people
(ii) because a presentation leads you to realize your ambition
(iii) because you cannot afford to make mistakes
(iv) because a presentation requires skills and concentration

(c) What are the two most important skills in making an effective presentation? 1

(i) preparation and research
(ii) informal chats and finding relevant matter
(iii) mental readiness and clear concepts
(iy) ideas and facts and figures

(d) How should a presentation be ended? 1

(i) with a punch line
(ii) with a summing up
(iii) with a semantic bridge
(iv) (i) and (ii) above

(e) Find antonym for the word ‘ungrateful’: 1

(i) grateful
(ii) thankless
(iii) docile
(iv) kind

(f) Find a word from the passage which means ‘showing great attention to details’. 1

(i) urges
(ii) meticulous
(iii) perspective
(iv) ultimate

II. Answer the following questions briefly: 4

(i) What are the two most important skills in making effective presentation? 1
(ii) How should a presentation be ended? 1
(iii) What is the main aim of a presentation? 1
(iv) What does failing to prepare mean? 1

(III) Find words in the passage which convey similar meaning as the following:  2

(i) rightly
(ii) real

Marking Scheme

I. (a) (iv) when you wish to improve your current senior position
(b) (ii) because a presentation leads you to realize your ambition
(c) (iii) mental readiness and concepts
(d) (iv) (i) and (ii) above
(e) (i) grateful
(f) (ii) meticulous

II. (a) (i) Mental readiness and clear concepts are the two most important skills in making- an effective presentation.
(ii) The presentation should be ended with a punch line and with a summing up.
(iii) The main aim of a presentation is to express and impress.
(iv) Failing to prepare means preparing yourself to fail.

III.(b) (i) aptly (ii) genuine

Q2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: 12

1. Computers are capable of doing extremely complicated work in all branches of learning. They can solve the most complex mathematical problems or put a thousand unrelated data in order. These machines can be put to varied uses. For instance, they can provide information on the best way to prevent traffic accidents. They work accurately and a: high speed. They save research workers’ years of hard work.

This whole process, by which machines can be used to work for us, has been called ‘automation’. In future, automation may enable human beings to enjoy more leisure than they do today. ‘The coming of automation is bound to have important social consequences.

2. Some years ago, an expert on automation, Sir Leon Bagrit, pointed out that it was a mistake to believe that these machines could think. There is no possibility that human beings will be controlled by machines. Though computers are capable of learning from their mistakes and improving on their performances, they need detailed instructionsfrom human beings to be able to operate. They can never lead independent lives or ‘rule the world’ by taking decisions of their own.

3. Sir Leon said that, in future, computers would be developed which would be small enough to be carried in one’s pocket. Ordinary people would then be able to use them to obtain valuable information. Computers could be plugged into a wireless network and could be used like radios. For instance, people going on a holiday could be informed about weather conditions. Car drivers can be given an alternative route when there is a traffic jam. It will also be possible to make tiny translating machines. This will enable people who do not share a common language to talk to each other without any difficulty or to read foreign publications.

4. It is impossible to assess the importance of a machine of this sort, for many international misunderstandings are caused simply due to our failure to understand one another. Computers will also be used in ordinary public hospitals. By providing a machine with a patient’s systems, a doctor will be able to diagnose the nature of his illness. Similarly, machines could be used to keep a check on a patient‘s health record and bring it up to date. Doctors will, therefore, have immediate access to great many facts which will help them in their work. Book-keepers and Accountants too, could be relieved of dull clerical work. For, the tedious task of compiling and checking lists of figures could be done entirely by machines. Computers are the most efficient servant that man has ever had, and there is no limit to the way they can be used to improve our
lives.

I. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions by choosing the best of the given choices. 6
 
(a.) State the two main capabilities of computers. 1

(i) varied uses, provide information
(ii) complicated work in all branches, put data in order
{iii) work at high speed, prevent traffic accidents
(iv) automation, save hard work and time.

(b) What is automation? 1

(i) the thinking machine
(ii) machines capable of learning by their mistakes
(iii) machines that can improve on their performances
(iv) the process by which machines can be used to work for us

(c) What benefit can man derive from automation? 1

(i) human beings may enjoy more leisure
(ii) save research workers’ years of hard work
(iii) information will be available at high speed
(iv) all the above

(d) What is the basic limitation of computers? 1

(i) Computers cannot think or take independent decisions
(ii) Computers can take control and rule over human beings
(iii) Computers cannot improve or learn from their mistakes
(iv) Computers need detailed instructions from men to be able to operate

(e) The synonym of the word ‘difficult’ in the passage is: 1

(i) easy
(ii) complex
(iii) hard
(iv) tedious

(f) Find antonym for the word ‘disable’. 1

(i) solve
(ii) prevent
(iii) enable
(iv) save

II. (a) Answer the following questions briefly : 4

(i) What benefits can man derive from automation ? 1
(ii) What are the basic limitations of computers? 1
(iii) Mention two areas in which computers can be effectively used. 1
(iv) Why are computers called a complex machine? 1

(b) Find words from the passage having the following meanings: 2

(i) not simple
(ii) freed

Marking Scheme

I. (a) (ii) complicated work in all branches, put data in order and (iv) automation, save hard work and time.
(b) (iv) the process by which machines can be used to work for us
(c) (i) human beings may enjoy more leisure
(d) (iv) Computers need detailed instructions from men to be able to operate
(e) (iv) tedious
(f) (iii) enable

II. (a) Automation saves hard work and time. It gives more leisure hours to man.
(ii) Computers need detailed instructions from human beings to be able to operate. They can never lead independent lives by taking decisions of their own.
(iii) The two areas in which computers can be effectively used are book kee and knowing about weather conditions.
(iv) Computers can do extremely complicated work solving the most com problems and put a thousand unrelated data in order

(b) (i) complex (ii) relieved

3. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:  12

1. The titanic, in its watery grave, is a great museum of human history and is at risk of being lost forever because of curious voyagers and treasure hunters, fears Bob Ballard, who first discovered the remains of the iconic ship in 1985. Famous for discovering the great ship, Ballard is a former US Navy Officer and a professor of oceanography.

2. “Titanic is a museum of human history without door and guard. I am deeply concerned about not only the Titanic but all the ancient history that is now at risk. If we cannot save this iconic ship, then there is very little hope we can save ancient ships. The world should realize that you don’t have to go down and take everything and you do not have to do a treasure hunt. This is a common heritage of all of us and if we really want to take steps to preserve human history in the ocean, we need to start with Titanic,” Ballard said in a telephonic interview from London.

3. Ballard, as part of a tie-up, is presenting a documentary called “Save the Titanic” on the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the great ship – April 15, 1912. The ship and her fate continue to fascinate, largely because of the horror that took place that night, with 1,522 passengers and crew losing their lives.

4. Ballard says that despite being on the ocean floor for 100 years, the ship is full of human footprints. “You will find pairs of shoes everywhere. The sea and the life below has claimed everything but they do not know what to do with shoes so you will find a pair of mother’s shoes next to her little daughter and that’s their gravestone. At her wreckage, we almost felt that we were surrounded by the lifeboats of all the people that were in the water at that spot”.

5. Ballard says that the fate of Titanic continues to fascinate so many years after it sank because it is “irony personified in history”. “The story has all the ingredients to make it timelessly fascinating. You have this revolutionary ship that’s unsinkable, and carrying a cross section of people in society. And then, it goes and hits an iceberg and sinks on its maiden journey. It’s an irony personified in history”.

6. Talking about his discovery, which came after great research and 75 years later, Ballard says it was a somber moment when they first spotted the boiler of the Titanic. “In the 90s, advanced technology gave us double diving capabilities in the Atlantic Ocean. I knew that the Titanic was sitting at almost 12,000 feet. What led me to her discovery was a simple technique that I followed. We decided to look for the debris trail instead of the ship”.

7. Ballard says the ship, if preserved well and not subjected to constant submarine journeys, will last for a long time on the Atlantic floor. “The deep sea, because of its darkness, its cold temperatures and its great pressure, creates a high state of preservation. With a little caution, we can protect the Titanic for future generations to visit.”

8. Ballard has also connected to the people of Belfast, who refused to talk about the tragedy “The ship’s construction took place at Belfast. After the tragedy, families of the workers refused to talk about it because of the shame and sadness in the loss of life involved”.

On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions by choosing the best of the given choices:-1×6=6

(a) The Titanic sank on

(i) Its 100th anniversary.
(ii) 15th April, 1912.
(iii) An iconic voyage in 1985.
(iv) Leaving the port of Belfast.

(b) The Titanic continues to attract attention because

(i) It is irony personified in history.
(ii) Its advanced technology gave double diving technologies.
(iii) It is a treasure hunt.
(iv) It is a common need.

(c) Ballard’s documentary on the Titanic is titled

(i) A museum of human history
(ii) The titanic
(iii) Save the Titanic
(iv) 75 years later

(d) Bob Ballard is a

(i) Former US Navy Officer
(ii) A professor of oceanography
(iii) Both (i) and (ii)
(iv) None of the above

(e) Titanic is a museum of —————-without door and guard.

(i) Marine life
(ii) Human history
(iii) Ancient life
(iv) Old ships

(f) What conditions under sea can protect Titanic for future generations?

(i) darkness,
(ii) cold temperatures and
(iii) great pressure
(iv) All the above

1.2 Answer the following question briefly:-1×4=4

(a) What happened on April 15, 1912?
(b) What did Ballard do as part of the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic?
(c) What did Ballard see in and around the ship on the ocean floor?
(d) Why did the people of Belfast refuse to talk about Titanic?

1.3 Find the words from the passage which mean the same as:-1×2=2

(a) First of its kind (para 5)
(b) Very solemn or serious (para 6)

Marking Scheme

1.1 On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions by choosing the best of the given choices:-1×5=5

(a) 15 April 1912
(b) It is irony personified in history
(c) Save the Titanic
(d) Both (i) and (ii)
(e) Human history  (f) All the above

1.2 Answer the following question briefly:-1×6=6

(a) On April 15, 1912 the Titanic ship, on its maiden journey, hit an iceberg and sank in the Atlantic Ocean.

(b) Ballard presented a documentary called “Save the Titanic” as part of the 100th anniversary of the Titanic.

(c) Ballard saw the ship full human footprints. He saw pairs of shoes everywhere in the ship and lifeboats around it.

(d) After the sinking of the ship, the people of Belfast refused to talk about the tragedy because of the shame and sadness.

1.3 Find the words from the passage which mean the same as:-1×2=2

(a) First of its kind (para 5) = maiden
(b) Very solemn or serious (para 6) = Somber

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