Comprehension

(1) According to a new study, a vast blanket of pollution stretching across

South Asia is cutting down sunlight by 10 per cent over India, damaging
agriculture, modifying rainfall patterns and putting hundreds of thousands
of people at risk.
(2) It is said, “Acids in the haze may, by falling as acid rain, have the
potential to damage crops and trees. Ash falling on leaves can aggravate
the impact of reduced sunlight on the Earth’s surface. The pollution that is
forming the haze could be leading to several hundreds of thousands of
premature deaths as a result of higher levels of respiratory diseases.”
(3) “The haze has cut down sunlight over India by 10 per cent (so far) – a
huge amount ! As a repercussion, the North-west of India is drying up,”
Prof. V Ramanathan said when asked specifically about the impact of the
haze over India. He said, “We are still in an early stage of understanding
of the impact of the haze.”
(4) Prof. V. Ramanathan was asked whether the current droughts in most
parts of India after over a decade of good monsoons was owing to the
haze. He said, “It was too early to reach a conclusion. If the droughts
persist for about four to five years, then we would start suspecting that it
may be because of the haze.” India, China and Indonesia are the worst
affected owing to their population density, economic growth and depleting
forest cover.
(i) Infer one reason for the following based on the information in
paragraph 1:
In India rainfall patterns are changing
Because a vast blanket of pollution is cutting down sunlight over India.

(ii) The pollution spreading across South Asia is affecting India by

_____________ Choose the correct option from the ones given below.
(a) I, II and III (b) I, III and IV (c) II, III and IV (d)
I, II and IV

(iii) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word / phrase

from paragraph 2.
possibility : _____potential________ : : suspecting : doubting

(iv) Select the correct option to complete the sentence.

____________________ droughts were caused by the haze.
(a) Strong evidence suggested that
(b) Past surveys confirmed that
(c) There has not been enough time to determine that
(d) Superstitious people believe that

(v) From the following pie chart, identify one reason each which
does and does not contribute to weather disruption :

(v) List two phenomena which lead to weather disruptions.

Acid rain
Ash falling on leaves
(vi) Fill in the blank by selecting the correct option.
Ash falling on leaves can ________________ the impact of reduced
sunlight on the Earth’s surface.
(a) worsen (b) encourage (c) diminish (d) support
(vii) Substitute the word ‘repercussion’ with one word similar in
meaning in the following sentence from paragraph 3.
The haze has cut down sunlight over India …..As a repercussion, the
North-West of India is drying up.
consequence
(viii)List any two countries which are affected due to depleting
forest cover.
Indonesia china
(ix) Which of the following means the same as ‘persist’ in
‘droughts persist’ as used in para 4?
(a) destroying (b) halting (c) continue (d)
blocking

(x) Select the option that titles paragraphs 1-4 appropriately with
reference to information in the text.
(a) (1) Impact of Pollution in South Asia
(2) Effect of Acid Rain
(3) Understanding Consequences of Haze
(4) Debate over Droughts

(b) (1) Impact of Droughts

(2) Understanding Acid Rain
(3) Effect of Haze
(4) Debate over Pollution

(c) (1) Impact of Pollution is South Asia

(2) Effects of Acid Rain
(3) Debate over Droughts
(4) Understanding Haze

(d) (1) Impact of Haze

(2) Understanding Acid Rain
(3) Debate over Pollution
(4) Effect of Haze

MIXED GRAMMAR:

(i) If I were attending the workshop, I ___________ stay on till the end of
the second session as well.
(a) would (b) may (c) can (d) should
(ii) Read the conversation between a passenger and the clerk at the
ticket counter. Complete the sentence by reporting the reply correctly.
The clerk at the ticket counter : Where do you want to go ?
Passenger : Please given me a ticket to Bhopal.
The clerk at the ticket counter enquired where the passenger wanted to go. The
passenger requested the clerk ____to give him a ticket to
Bhopal_________________________________
(iii) As a true patriot, I ____________ lay down my life for my motherland.
(a) might (b) could (c) will (d) should

(iv) When I was a very young girl, ______________ grocery shopping was
considered a major outing for me.
(a) to be going (b) going (c) having gone (d) went

(v) By the time you reach the station, the train __________________ (leave).
(a) will leave (b) will have left (c) would leave (d) can
leave

(vi) Identify the error in the given sentence and supply the
correction :
We might goes to the park later if the weather improves.
Error: ___goes__________ Correction: ________go_____

(vii) Sam asked Seema, "What time does the train leave?" (Report
Sam’s question)
Sam asked seema what time the train left

(viii) Each of the books _____has_________ (has/have) a unique cover

design.

(ix) Lara said, “I have visited Paris twice.” (Change to Indirect

Speech)
(a) Lara said that she visited Paris twice.
(b) Lara said that she has visited Paris twice.
(c) Lara said that she had visited Paris twice.
(d) Lara said that she had visited Paris two times.
(x) Neither the manager nor the employees ____were_________
(was/were) aware of the policy change.

(xi) Identify the error in the following sentence:

The team of researchers, along with their supervisor, were planning the
next phase of the project.
Error: were Correction: was
ANALYTICAL PARAGRAPH / DATA INTERPRETATION:
Study the chart given below on the pollution figures in some major towns
and cities. Write a paragraph analyzing the data.

LITERATURE:
Read the following extracts and answer the questions that
follow :

I wrote the three pages Mr. Keesing had assigned me and was
satisfied. I argued that talking is a student's trait and that I would
do my best to keep it under control, but that I would never be
able to cure myself of the habit since my mother talked as much
as I did, if not more, and that there's not much one can do about
inherited traits.

(i) Who was Mr. Keesing ?

(a) Maths teacher (b) Social Science teacher (c) Warden (d)
Principal

(ii) According to the extract, the incorrigible habit possessed by

the speaker was
I. making noise in class
II. talking to much
III. procrastinating
IV. coming late to class
V. asking irritating questions

(a) I and III (b) Only II (c) I, IV and V (d) Only III

(iii) Complete the analogy by selecting the suitable word from the
extract.
routine : habit : : characteristic : ______trait_________

(iv) Select the reason why the narrator is unable to control her
trait.
(a) She had deliberately practised it.
(b) She wanted to be different from others
(c) Her teacher had encouraged her to continue as she was.
(d)She had inherited it.

(v) Which of the following most nearly means the opposite of the
phrase ‘under control’?
(a) to spend less (b) unable to take on the
challenge
(c) find it difficult to manage (d) being very stubborn

His landlord disliked him and tried to eject him. In revenge, Griffin
set fire to the house. To get away without being seen he had to
remove his clothes. Thus, it was that he became a homeless
wanderer, without clothes, without money and quite invisible –
until he happened to step in some mud, and left footprints as he
walked !
(i) Griffin’s landlord tried to eject him because

(a) he was a lawless person (b) he had set his house

on fire
(c) he didn’t like him (d) he was a drug addict.

(ii) Fill in the blanks with one word only.

Griffin deliberately removed his clothes because he wanted to become
____invisible_____________.
(iii) Select the option that correctly captures the application of the word
'fire' as used in this extract.

(a) Griffin said that he would fire the manager

(b) Griffin’s remarks provoked heavy fire from the political opponents.
(c) Griffin’s palace was completely gutted by the fire.
(d) Griffin’s speech was full of fire and energy, inspiring everyone in the
audience.

(iv) Griffin's presence was felt when….

(a) He jumped into the water with a splash. (b) he wore clothes.
(c) he left muddy footprints. (d) he stepped in
mud

Which of the following is not true with reference to the given

extract ?
(a) Griffin had become penniless.
(b) Griffin promised to behave himself.
(c) Griffin revealed himself by his muddy footprints.
(d) No one could see Griffin when he took off his clothes
The baker or bread seller of those days had a peculiar dress known as
the kabai. It was a single piece long frock reaching down to the knees.
In our childhood we saw bakers wearing shirt and trousers which were
shorter than full-length ones and longer than half pants. Even today,
anyone who wears a half pant which reaches just below the knees
invites the comment that he is dressed like a pader !

1) The baker's monthly accounts were:

a) written on the dress
b) remembered by the baker
c) written on the wall
d) calculated on the palm

2) When the writer says, "Baking was indeed a profitable profession in

the old days”, he means that...
a) Baking isn't as popular in Goa today.
b) bakers have chosen to adopt other professions
c) Baking , as a job, isn't as gainful as it used to be
d) bakers' goods were of better quality in earlier times.

3) The statement that is TRUE about payment collection , according to

the passage is :
a) The baker received payment on a daily basis
b) The baker was paid for his services at the end of the month
c) The baker insisted that customers pay before the month-end.
d) The baker chose to receive payment any day of the month.
4) The kabai was a 'peculiar' outfit as it was....
a) a tight-fitting apparel
b) too colourful
c) made of unsuitable materials
d) a dress-like attire

5) The extract uses the phrase 'invites the comments'. Which of the
following expressions is incorrect with respect to the word 'invites' ?

a) Option 1 b) Option 2 c) Option 3 d) Option 4