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Unseen Passage for Class 12 CBSE With Answers Pdf
Unseen Passage for Class 12 English Reading Skills
Reading is a skill that facilitates access to information. It also helps us to explore topics of one’s interest. With the smart phone, Internet access, the tablet, and the printed word, today the reader can access reading material from a variety of sources.
A progressive approach to reading consists of the following steps.
- Step 1: Read and try to grasp the overall content of the passage.
- Step 2: Read the questions given below the passage.
- Step 3: Read the passage once again to find answers to questions.
- Step 4: Limit your reading to parts that are relevant to the questions asked and then frame answers that are logical, connected and to the point.
To gain further expertise in reading ability try out the following things.
As your reading text passages have been drawn from several sources, they include a wide canvas of subject matter. Their content is lucidly and pleasantly arranged. Hence, make use of your school library for enlarging your reading interests.
For practice in comprehending factual passages, consult encyclopedias, reference volumes, hotel and tourist materials, travel and culture magazines, and international publications such as National Geographic and Reader’s Digest.
For opinion-related topics turn to newspapers, periodicals and international magazines dealing with architec-ture, health, travel culture and cuisine.
For literary texts, go to poetry collections, teenage fiction, novels, drama and speeches.
Make reading a habit and use a dictionary to look up unfamiliar words that you come across.
Unseen Passage for Class 12 with Answers Pdf
Unseen Passage for Class 12 Pdf – 1
Read the passage given below.
1. Maharana Pratap ruled over Mewar only for 25 years. However, he accomplished so much grandeur during his reign that his glory surpassed the boundaries of countries and time turning him into an immortal personality. He along with his kingdom became a synonym for valour, sacrifice and patriotism. Mewar had been a leading Rajput kingdom even before Maharana Pratap occupied the throne. Kings of Mewar, with the cooperation of their nobles and subjects, had established such traditions in the kingdom, as augmented their magnificence despite the hurdles of having a smaller area under their command and less population. There did come a few thorny occasions when the flag of the kingdom seemed sliding down. Their flag once again heaved high in the sky thanks to the gallantry and brilliance of the people of Mewar.
2. The destiny of Mewar was good in the sense that barring a few kings, most of Jhe rulers were competent and patriotic. This glorious tradition of the kingdom almost continued for 1500 years since its establishment, right from the reign of Bappa Rawal. In fact only 60 years before Maharana Pratap, Rana Sanga drove the kingdom to the pinnacle of fame. His reputation went beyond Rajasthan and reached Delhi. Two generations before him, Rana Kumbha had given a new stature to the kingdom through victories and developmental work. During his reign, literature and art also progressed extraordinarily. Rana himself was inclined towards writing and his works are read with reverence even today. The ambience of his kingdom was conducive to the creation of high quality work of art and literature. These accomplishments were the outcome of a longstanding tradition sustained by several generations.
3. The life of the people of Mewar must have been peaceful and prosperous during the long span of time; otherwise such extraordinary accomplishment in these fields would not have been possible. This is reflected in their art and literature as well as their loving nature. They compensate for lack of admirable physique by their firm but pleasant nature. The ambience of Mewar remains lovely thanks to the cheerful and liberal character of its people.
4. One may observe astonishing pieces of workmanship not only in the forts and palaces of Mewar but also in public utility buildings. Ruins of many structures which are still standing tall in their grandeur are testimony to the fact that Mewar was not only the land of the brave but also a seat of art and culture. Amidst aggression and bloodshed, literature and art flourished and creative pursuits of literature and artists did not suffer. Imagine, how glorious the period must have been when the Vijaya Stambha which is the sample of our great ancient architecture even today, was constructed. In the same fort, Kirti Stambha is standing high, reflecting how liberal the then administration was which allowed people from other communities and kingdoms to come and carry out construction work. It is useless to indulge in the debate whether the Vijaya Stambha was constructed first or the Kirti Stambha. The fact is that both the capitals are standing side by side and reveal the proximity between the king and the subjects of Mewar.
5. The cycle of time does not remain the same. Whereas the reign of Rana Sanga was crucial in raising the kingdom to the acme of glory, it also proved to be his nemesis. History took a turn. The fortune of Mewar — the land of the brave — started waning. Rana tried to save the day with his acumen which was running against the stream and the glorious traditions for sometime.
1.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage answer each of the questions with the help of options that follow.
(a) Maharana Pratap became immortal because …………………………. .
(i) he ruled Mewar for 25 years
(ii) he added a lot of grandeur to Mewar
(iii) of his valour, sacrifice and patriotism
(iv) both (ii) and (iii)
Answer:
(iv) both (ii) and (iii)
(b) (i) Difficulties in the way of Mewar were …………………………. .
(ii) lack of cooperation of the nobility
(iii) its small area and small population
Answer:
(iii) its small area and small population
(c) During thorny occasions …………………………. .
(i) the flag of Mewar seemed to be lowered
(iii) the people of Mewar showed gallantry
Answer:
(i) the flag of Mewar seemed to be lowered
(d) Mewar was lucky because …………………………. .
(i) all of its rulers were competent
(ii) most of its people were competent
(iii) most of its rulers were competent
(iv) only a few of its people were incompetent
Answer:
(iii) most of its rulers were competent
(e) Rana Sanga’s reputation went …………………………. .
(i) beyond Rajasthan to Delhi
(ii) beyond Rajasthan to the Southern states
(iii) down with each passing day
(iv) beyond Rajasthan to Gujarat
Answer:
(i) beyond Rajasthan to Delhi
1.2 Answer the following.
(a) The kings of Mewar had enlarged their magnificence despite having a comparatively small …………………………. and less people.
(b) The Kirti Stambh is an example of a liberal administration that permitted other …………………………. to take on its construction.
(c) Mewar was a leading Rajput kingdom prior to Rana Pratap’s reign. (True/False)
(d) Liberal people in Mewar practiced art and literature. (True/False)
(e) Stambh and the …………………………. are capitals standing side by side in Mewar.
Answer:
(a) kingdom
(b) communities
(c) True
(d) False
(e) Kirti Stambh
1.3 Find words from the passage which mean the same as:
(a) surprising (para 4)
(b) of great importance (para 5)
Answer:
(a) astonishing
(b) crucial
Unseen Passage for Class 12 Pdf – 2
Read the passage given below.
1. How often do we remember to treat others as you would like them to treat you? In our quest to get more and more, we forget that the quality of our lives depends on the kind of personalities we have cultivated for ourselves. Genes might play a role when it comes to one’s disposition, but the major portion of our attitudes and behaviour is influenced by the choices we make. So in the beginning of every year should you resolve to make more money, learn a new language, travel more frequently then you must discontinue to be the same grumpy, impatient soul you always were, should you then not seek to refine your character, focus on nuances like how you treat people, react to challenges and deal with stressful situations? For most people such a course would yield rich results.
2. According to Mary Thomas, usually our New Year resolutions remain unachieved because we try to achieve the impossible or, sometimes, just add more goals that we wish to accomplish to the list of resolutions, but, strangely, we do not remember much about them during the course of the year as we do not seem to value them enough to complete them. The better.option would be to address something fundamental to you, to who you really are, and go ahead with completing them instead of making any drastic resolutions which you will never be able to fulfil. You could resolve to be a better person by having a positive attitude towards people you come across in life. This could involve being nice with the lady who cleans the house, or your colleague who sits near you, but you never interacted with. Another trick is to acknowledge people for the value they add . to your personal or professional life. By extending basic courtesies to people around you, you add value to your life and that pays off in the long run.
3. Sometimes, we know that there is room for improvement as far as our personalities are concerned but we have little or no idea where to make the start. An easy starting point could be to look for opportunities in one’s immediate surroundings. One positive starting point could be taking a positive attitude towards life and dispelling all negative thoughts. You could make a positive beginning by being a better person at work. This means treating everyone with respect. You should not only interact politely, but also value each person’s ideas however far removed they may be, to your own. After all, your friend’s ideas are an integral part of the organisation to which both of you belong. Inculcating this habit of making an effort to talk to people you would normally not have to interact with on a daily basis, would make you a better person at the workplace.
4. Also, you do not have to do something extraordinary to prove your good intentions. Just greeting or smiling at your colleagues first thing in the morning could always brighten someone’s day. These are simple things that we are taught while growing but tend to forget as we move through life. So essentially, being better is an exercise in learning to be nice, and you will see that playing nice will get your work done better than scolding or frowning or passing orders.
5. A purposeful life should contain skills that lead to practical changes. After all, no people are alike, so why should your ideas be the only right solution? A company, where individual differences are nurtured, information is not suppressed, soon becomes a workplace that adds value to its employees, rather than merely extracting work out of them. It makes workers feel intrinsically rewarded. It is, therefore, imperative that co-workers and partners share a camaraderie that transcends mere professional conduct and delivery. Thus, for a person who wishes to remain happy and content, it is as valuable to spend time on nurturing qualities like friendship and consideration as it is on acquiring skills and knowledge.
2.1 On the basis of your understanding of the al?6ve passage, complete the statements given below with the help of options that follow.
(a) The quality of our lives depends on …………………………. .
(i) the personalities we have cultivated for ourselves
(ii) the number of New Year resolutions we make
(iii) the challenges that people give us
(iv) None of the above
Answer:
(i) the personalities we have cultivated for ourselves
(b) Our New Year resolutions remain unfulfilled, according to Mary Thomas, because we …………………………. .
(i) make too many resolutions
(ii) add more goals than what we can accomplish
(iii) get caught up with our studies
(iv) feel happy about them
Answer:
(ii) add more goals than what we can accomplish
(c) To add value to your life you …………………………. .
(i) must earn more money
(ii) become more hardworking
(iii) should be nice to the people in your immediate surroundings
(iv) only (ii) and (iii)
Answer:
(iii) should be nice to the people in your immediate surroundings
(d) Workers feel intrinsically rewarded if …………………………. .
(i) they are given bonuses
(ii) their work is given recognition
(iii) their individual differences are acknowledged
(iv) none of the above
Answer:
(iii) their individual differences are acknowledged
(e) Playing worse will …………………………. .
(i) label you as a flatterer
(ii) not help you at all
(iii) make people see through you
(iv) get your work done better
Answer:
(ii) not help you at all
2.2 Answer the following.
(a) To improve our personalities, an easy starting point is to look for …………………………. in our surroundings.
(b) Our …………………………. might play a part in shaping our dispositions, but our behaviour and attitudes are influenced by our choices.
(c) A workplace adds values to it employees when …………………………. differences are nurtured.
(d) By extending basic courtesies to people around us we add value to our lives. (True/False)
(e) A company where information is not suppressed, becomes a value-added workplace. (True/False)
Answer:
(a) opportunities
(b) genes
(c) individual
(d) True
(e) True
2.3 Find words from the passage which mean the same as:
(a) basic (para 2)
(b) to prevent something from being expressed (para 5)
Answer:
(a) fundamental
(b) suppress
Unseen Passage for Class 12 Pdf – 3
Read the passage given below.
1. Murdstone and Grinby’s warehouse was at the waterside. It was down in Blackfriars. Modern improvements have altered the place; but it was the last house at the bottom of a narrow street, curving downhill to the river, with some stairs at the end, where people took boat. It was a crazy old house with a wharf of its own, abutting on the water when the tide was in, and on the mud when the tide was out, and literally over-run with rats. Its panelled rooms, discoloured with the dirt and smoke of a hundred years, I dare say; its decaying floors and staircase; the squeaking and scuffling of the old grey rats down in the cellars; and the dirt and rottenness of the place; are things, not of many years ago, in my mind, but of the present instant. They are all before me, just as they were in the evil hour when I went among them for the first time, with my trembling hand in Mr. Quinion’s.
2. Murdstone and Grinby’s trade was among a good many kinds of people, but an important branch of it was the supply of wines and spirits to certain packet ships. I forget now where they chiefly -went, but I think there were some among them that made voyages both to the East and West Indies. I know that a great many empty bottles were one of the consequences of this traffic, and that certain men and boys were employed to examine them against the light, and reject those that were flawed, and to rinse and wash them. When the empty bottles ran short, there were labels to be pasted on full ones, or corks to be fitted to them, or seals to be put upon the corks, or finished bottles to be packed in casks. All this work was my work, and of the boys employed upon it. I was one.
3. There were three or four of us, counting me. My working place was established in a corner of the warehouse, where Mr. Quinion could see me, when he chose to stand up on the bottom rail of his stool in the counting-house, and look at me through a window above the desk. Hither, on the first morning of my so auspiciously beginning life on my own account, the oldest of the regular boys was summoned to show me my business. His name was Mick Walker, and he wore a ragged apron and a paper cap. He informed me that his father was a bargeman, and walked, in a black velvet head-dress, in the Lord Mayor’s Show. He also informed me that our principal associate would be another boy whom he introduced by the—to me—extraordinary name of Mealy Potatoes. I discovered, however, that this youth had not been christened by that name, but that it had been bestowed upon him in the warehouse, on account of his complexion, which was pale or mealy. Mealy’s father was a waterman, who had the additional distinction of being a fireman, and was engaged as such at one of the large theatres; where some young relation of Mealy’s—I think his little sister—did Imps in the Pantomimes.
4. No words can express the secret agony of my soul as I sunk into this companionship; compared these henceforth every day associates with those of my happier childhood—not to say with Steerforth, Traddles, and the rest of those boys; and felt my hopes of growing up to be a learned and distinguished man, crushed in my bosom. The deep remembrance of the sense I had, of being utterly without hope now; of the shame I felt immy position; of the misery it was to my young heart to believe that day by day what I had learned, and thought, and delighted in, and raised my fancy and my emulation up by, would pass away from me, little by little, never to be brought back any more; cannot be written.
3.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, complete the statements given below with the help of options that follow.
(a) The warehouse of Murdstone and Grinsby was located …………………………. .
(i) at the waterside down in Blackfriars
(ii) in an old building near the prison
(iii) on decaying floors and squeaky stairs
(iv) downhill to the river
Answer:
(i) at the waterside down in Blackfriars
(b) The writer’s workplace was established …………………………. .
(i) in the front office
(ii) in the back office
(iii) in a comer of the warehouse
(iv) in the middle of the warehouse
Answer:
(iii) in a corner of the warehouse
(c) Mr Quinion could look at the narrator …………………………. .
(i) from above his desk
(ii) through the comer of his eyes
(iii) by standing on a stool
(iv) through a window above his desk
Answer:
(iv) through a window above his desk
(d) The boy appointed to show the narrator his business was …………………………. .
(i) Grinby
(ii) Murdstone
(iii) Mealy
(iv) Mick Walker
Answer:
(iv) Mick Walker
(e) The youth was christened by that name because …………………………. .
(i) he wanted it that way
(ii) it was his parents’ choice
(iii) he had a pale complexion
(iv) it was his childhood name
Answer:
(iii) he had a pale complexion
3.2 Answer the following.
(a) The warehouse of Murdstone and Grinby’s was located in an empanelled room. (Thie/False)
(b) The author’s companion Mick Walker at work was dressed in a black velvet head-dress. ( True/False)
(c) Steerforth, Traddles and others were the author’s companions of his happier childhood days. (True/False)
(d) The packet ships carrying the wares of Murdstone and Grinby’s made voyages to both the East and ………………………….. .
(e) Mr Quinion could watch the author at work when he stood on the bottom rail of his …………………………. in the counting house.
Answer:
(a) False
(b) False
(c) True
(d) West Indies
(e) stool
3.3 Find words from the passage which mean the same as:
(a) a theatrical entertainment involving music, jokes, etc.
(b) having a lot of knowledge (para 4)
Answer:
(a) pantomime
(b) learned
Unseen Passage for Class 12 Pdf – 4
Read the passage given below.
1. The newest stress buster is paper yoga. Adults are now changing over from their smartphones . to colouring books to beat anxiety and relax. They spend hours hunched over the drawing of mandalas filling in their words into the circle, with colours. These adult colouring books are classified in the adult category and are becoming fast selling items as people reach out to them to relax their minds. And it is not just mandala drawings that are in vogue. Others settle for elaborate landscapes, cultural tableaux, brimming with images of dancers, singers and concerts. Involutes of various shapes also make up this list.
2. Just as the demand has kept growing, there are also authors who are much in demand for their relaxing creations. Leading in this field is Johanna Basford, who has sold 1.4 million copies of her books ‘Secret Garden’, ‘Enchanted Forest’ and ‘Lost Ocean’, in a matter of just two years. More bookstores have now started stocking such books as customers are asking for them. Publishers now contend that it is not just celebrity authors in this category but any book with the tag-line de-stress’ has a readymade market for it.
3. Another reason for the success of these books is that they are multilingual in the way that they speak to adults of all age groups, cultures and dispositions. Even nursery teachers are fast becoming customers of these books not because they are overworked but because of the fun that even five-year olds are having with these colouring books.
4. The new trend has been dubbed ‘Paper Yoga’. While the junior versions of these books hold simple generously proportioned patterns, that allow for a child’s broad strokes, the adult variants typically have tight kaleidoscopes that require a fine pen and a staunch eye. As they do not require special skills to execute, publishers are marketing it with the tag-line that their target customer is anyone who can draw satisfaction from something beautiful. The skills of drawing and colouring or conceptualization, essentials for the art of drawing, are not in this list of requirements. Thus the phobia of being an expert or amateur is not a deterrent.
5. So far, publishers have had to import their stock as there are not sufficient titles available. But illustrators are fast catching up with this trend and some have even ventured into self-publishing in this line. Others are innovating still more meaningful inputs into this work by asking customers to bring their own experiences to the book.
6. Individual stories of success are making an appearance too. Illustrator Indu Harikumar started her self-published colouring book, ‘Beauty Needs Space’, on social media. She priced a copy of 12 artworks at ?1500 each and sold 155 of the 200 she had printed. ‘People have written to say that they connected with the book as they worked on it.’
7. While adults are discovering their inner selves through this creative pursuit, art-based therapeutics warn against expecting too much from these books for saving lives or minds. At best, they calm the mind and are a temporary diversion, for the mind and cut off the noise of clamouring thoughts. These books they claim can offer therapeutic returns only when used in conjunction with a therapist’s counsel. As yet the entire process is undergoing a testing time but whatever little of it has emerged, is being hailed as a step in the positive direction.
4.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, complete the statements given below with the help of options that follow.
(a) Adults spend hours over their mandalas …………………………. .
(i) colouring them
(ii) filling in the words into them
(iii) filling in messages into them
(iv) writing their life history in them
Answer:
(ii) filling in the words into them
(b) Johanna Basford named her colouring books …………………………. .
(i) Basford Gardens, Secret Garden
(ii) Paper Yoga, Beauty Needs Space
(iii) Enchanted Forest, Paper Boats
(iv) Secret Garden, Enchanted Forest, Lost Ocean
Answer:
(iv) Secret Garden, Enchanted Forest, Lost Ocean
(c) Indu Harikumar started her colouring book …………………………. .
(i) on the social media
(ii) in public spaces
(iii) in school classrooms
(iv) in international meets
Answer:
(i) on the social media
(d) Colouring books can serve best if combined with …………………………. .
(i) a temporary diversion of the mind
(ii) working on social media
(iii) a therapist’s counsel
(iv) without a therapist’s advice
Answer:
(iii) a therapist’s counsel
(e) People wrote to Harikumar saying that they …………………………. .
(i) could not connect with her books
(ii) found the price of the books steep
(iii) connected with the books as they worked on it
(iv) lost their interest while going through the books
Answer:
(iii) connected with the book as they workfed on it
4.2 Answer the following.
(a) The title of Indu Harikumar’s self-published colouring book is ‘Beauty Needs Space’. (True/False)
(b) The colouring books are called ‘multi-lingual’ because they are writen in different languages. (True/False)
(c) Adults who use colouring books for therapy need therapeutic counselling too. (True/False)
(d) Adult colouring books are becoming fast selling items on account of their ability to …………………………. the mind.
(e) The leading author of adult colouring books is …………………………. .
Answer:
(a) True
(b) False
(c) True
(d) relax
(e) Johanna Basford
4.3 Find words from the passage which mean the same as:
(a) vast and detailed (para 1) an extreme fear of something (para 4)
Answer:
(a) elaborate
(b) phobia
Unseen Passage for Class 12 Pdf – 5
Read the passage given below.
1. The first Indian woman physician Anandibai Joshi, graduated in 1886. Starting from that single figure, about 125 years later, Indian women have started to outnumber men in admissions to medical colleges and the trend continues to grow stronger by the year, particularly over the last five years. During this period, India has produced 4500 more female doctors than male ones.
2. In India women constituted 51% of the students joining medical colleges, cornering 23,522 seats in 2014-15, compared to 22,934 men. This increase is in keeping with the worldwide trend. In fact, in the neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh there are much higher portions of women in medical colleges, with figures standing at 70% and 60% respectively.
3. Paradoxically, there is a serious shortage of female doctors in India. According,to the medical journal Lancet, only 17% of all allopathic doctors and 6% of those in rural areas are women. This is less than one female allopathic doctor per 10,000 population in rural areas, whereas the ratio is 6.5 in urban areas.
4. According to a paper on women in medicine published in the journal ‘Indian Anthropologist’ by sociologist Dr Mita Bhadra, the gender gap persists at the postgraduation and doctoral levels. The percentage of women doctors here is around one-third of male doctors. She also observed that positions of leadership in academics and administration are still mostly occupied by men.
5. In Pakistan, though 70% of medical students are women, only 23% of registered doctors were females because a large number of those who graduated never took to practising. The picture is no different in Bangladesh where 3164 female doctors graduated as compared to 2383 male doctors, in 2013. The trend of more women joining the medical profession is welcomed in all these countries as female doctors are seen as committed and caring. This difference in numbers in the profession vis-a-vis women graduating has led to several studies being carried out. A paper on women in medicine published by Dr Rakesh Chaddha and Dr Mamta Sood of the psychiatry department of AIIMS noted that medicine has been a male-dominated profession because it demands long working hours that are disadvantageous to women who, even today, struggle to juggle career and family responsibilities.
6. Earlier, though women were largely restricted to fields such as obstetrics, gynaecology and paediatrics, this is changing now. There has always been a preponderance of women in pre-clinical subjects like anatomy, physiology and biochemistry and paraclinical subjects like pharmacology, pathology and microbiology, right from the ‘70s. However, when a department is headed by a woman, the percentage of women in the faculty goes up. In departments headed by women, the women faculty was 49% as compared to just 19% in those headed by men, says Dr Chaddha, giving the example of the neurology department at the AIIMS, which saw a lot of women faculty joining when the HOD was a woman. ‘It is probably because the head of the department becomes a role model and more women are encouraged to join,’ said Dr. Chaddha.
7. There are skews within the medical profession in most parts of the world with some medical specialties, such as surgery and other disciplines requiring emergency duty with irregular hours being male-dominated. Even in the United Kingdom, though women account for 56% of those opting for medical education, 49% are public health and only 8% are surgeons, according to a Royal College of Physicians expert.
8. Among the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries (OECD), across ten of them, predominantly from the erstwhile Eastern Bloc, the proportion of female physicians is more than 50%, ranging from a high 73.8% in Estonia to 50.2% in Spain. In two non- OECD countries, Latvia and Lithuania, females accounted for over 74% and 70% of physicians. In contrast, only one in five doctors in Japan and Korea were women. In the United States it is one in three, confirming the fact that the disproportion among women and men doctors is a universal phenomenon.
5.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, complete the statements given below with the help of options that follow.
(a) In 125 years, the female doctors have outnumbered male doctors by …………………………. in India.
(i) 4000
(ii) 4300
(iii) 4500
(iv) 2383
Answer:
(iii) 4500
(b) The number of women joining the medical profession in Pakistan and Bangladesh …………………………. .
(i) is much lower than the figures in India
(ii) equals women doctors in India
(iii) is growing faster than the doctors in India
(iv) is. higher than the figures in India
Answer:
(iv) is higher than the figures in India
(c) There are less women in medicine because …………………………. .
(i) it is a tough line
(ii) it demands long working hours
(iii) women do not enjoy this field
(iv) women are discouraged by their peers in this segment
Answer:
(ii) it demands long working hours
(d) Females accounted for over …………………………. of the physicians in Lithuania.
(i) 70%
(ii) 74%
(iii) 50%
(iv) one in three women
Answer:
(i) 70%
(e) The positions of leadership in academics and administration are still occupied by …………………………. .
(i) women
(ii) men
(iii) Both men and women
(iv) doctors
Answer:
(ii) men
5.2 Answer the following.
(a) At the post-graduate level, the percentage of female doctors is one-third of male doctors. (True/False)
(b) Studying is disadvantageous to women as they struggle to juggle career with family responsibilities. (True/False)
(c) Pharmacology, pathology and microbiology are termed …………………………. subjects in medicine.
(d) The Indian woman physician who graduated in 1886 was …………………………. .
(e) The …………………………. is the medical journal that reported a serious shortage of female doctors in India.
Answer:
(a) True
(b) False
(c) paraclinical
(d) Dr Anandibai Joshi
(e) Lancet
5.3 Find words from the passage which mean the opposite of the following.
(a) abundance (para 3)
(b) discouraged (para 6)
Answer:
(a) shortage
(b) encouraged
Unseen Passage for Class 12 Pdf – 6
Read the passage given below.
1. It was 200 years ago that a French doctor when examining a female patient rolled up sheets – of paper and placed them to her heart instead of pitting his ear to her chest. This single act gave birth to that universal marker of medical practice, the stethoscope. Over two centuries this device has travelled wide, and is now seen in S&M shops, toy stores, medical exam rooms. Unfortunately on its two hundredth birthday, instead of celebration there’s talk of dispatching the stethoscope to the morgue. Last week, Jagat Narula, a cardiologist, provocatively claimed: ‘The stethoscope is dead.’
2. In 2014, India-born 15-year-old Suman Mulumudi invented the Steth 10 in Seattle. He is one among several who have come up with alternatives to the regular stethoscope. His invention essentially records heart and lung sounds and converts them into a spectrogram which can be annotated in an iPhone that amplifies and stores for future reference. The device is in the market. Besides this, there are other choices in the market. Others have cited a portable ultrasound machine as a possible successor. An FDA approved digital stethoscope that records the sounds of a patient’s heart and transmits them into an app is also around. The chip stored in the cloud can be transferred for a second opinion anywhere in the world. Some stethoscope apps play doctor and deliver snap diagnosis by applying algorithms to match the patient’s recordings with a re¬programmed index of common sounds detected for listening to internal sounds of the body.
3. The gains, experts say, are greater diagnostic accuracy, real-time results and streamlined treatment that saves the patient time and money by eliminating superfluous tests and medication. But not all Indian doctors are convinced about it. Dr Vinita Arora maintains that technology is what you tell technology. Good history taking and listening to a patient can never be substituted. If the machine misses even one sign the diagnosis could be incorrect. According to Dr. CT Deshmukh, ninety per cent of doctors can’t do without a stetho, but some others point out stethos stand-ins will not penetrate the Indian market until new digital devices are introduced to students right at medical school. According to Dr Neelesh Bhandari, when you go to techno conferences you realize that stethoscopes are going out because apps and mobile devices are more accurate and tell you more.’ For manufacturers of steel stethoscopes their devices are a bargain at X 500 to X 2000. Even though electronic stethoscopes have been available for several years you will seldom come across them in use.
4. The economics of operating the next gen stethoscope may prove a hurdle in India. Logistically the steep imbalance between doctor-patient ratio – 6 doctors to every 10,000 people could suppose that quicker, more efficient tools with tele-medicine capabilities would have sped up diagnosis. But then again 80% of the population is treated in rural India where steady electricity is a luxury.
5. This is why other doctors feel that it is not yet time for the stethoscope to exit although they believe that will undoubtedly come. For the present the convention is suggestive of the doctor’s authority because when a patient sees an individual with a stethoscope they feel reassured that they are in capable hands and feel on the way to recovery. Moreover, if you take away the symbol you take away the placebo effect of the doctor.
6. Finally it is worthwhile to remember that a conventional stetho may not relay messages but it lias always had a procgssor- between the ear tips.
6.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, complete the statements given below with the help of options that follow:
(a) The French doctor examining a woman patient …………………………. .
(i) rolled up his sleeve
(ii) rolled up sheets of paper
(iii) placed a paper to his ear
(tv) invented the stethoscope
Answer:
(ii) rolled up sheets of paper
(b) The stethoscope can now be seen in …………………………. .
(i) medical operating rooms, toy shops
(ii) toy shops and sports goods
(iii) medical examination rooms and toy shops
(iv) book stores and hospitals
Answer:
(iii) medical examination rooms and toy shops
(c) The stethoscope has been in use for …………………………. .
(i) a century
(ii) 200 years
(iii) since 2014
(iv) before the computer age
Answer:
(ii) 200 years
(d) The digital stethoscope records the patient’s heartbeat and …………………………. .
(i) stores it in its memory
(ii) transmits it to the Iphone
(iii) warns the doctor
(iv) stores it in an app
Answer:
(iv) stores it in an app
(e) In rural India, steady electricity is still considered to be a …………………………. .
(i) need
(ii) luxury
(iii) history
(iv) demand
Answer:
(ii) luxury
6.2 Answer the following.
(a) In 2014, Suman Mulumundi invented the Steth 10, in Seattle. (True/False)
(b) At medical conferences stethoscopes are becoming outdated because apps and mobile devices are more …………………………. .
(c) The sentence, “The stethoscope is dead”, was given by …………………………. .
(d) The type of stethoscope that records the sounds of a patient’s heart and transmits it into an app is …………………………. .
(e) A patient feels …………………………. when he sees a doctor with a stethoscope.
Answer:
(a) True
(b) accurate
(c) Jagat Narula
(d) digital
(e) reassured
6.3 Find words from the passage which mean the opposite of the following:
(a) external (para 2)
(b) inefficient (para 3)
Answer:
(a) internal
(b) streamlined
Unseen Passage for Class 12 Pdf – 7
Read the passage given below.
1. Once, Lakshman Singh Potai, Santosh Kumar Usendi and Butia Ram Kurram may have hunted in the forests of Chhattisgarh in their free time. Now they have social media accounts, know some English, and Potai at least is the proud owner of a selfie-stick. The first kids from Abujmarh- Gondi for “unknown highlands” — to take admission in Delhi University, will graduate from Hindu College this year with honours degrees in physics.
2. Their move to Delhi in the summer of 2013 was momentous. The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister had organised a farewell; the governor had written a letter of introduction saying, “They are remarkable in the sense that they come from Abujmarh area of Bastar, which remained impenetrable to the administration till recently and is Naxal affected.” In 2014, a fourth teen, Nihal Nag from Matenar in Dantewada, joined DU. Three of them hope to be civil servants; Kurram wants to appear for CAT.
3. They owe much of their English skills to their friends. “Our Manipuri friends don’t speak Hindi at all,” explains Potai. He knows Chandni Chowk thanks to a group project in first year; they’ve watched movies in Connaught Place theatres; sampled the fare at different college canteens and had. Manipuri fish at a friend’s place near North Campus. When he goes home, Potai and Santosh buy sweets from a shop in Dwarka’s sector 11 and clothes from Karol Bagh. But the long commute between hostel and college—they stay at Utkarsh, Chhattisgarh government’s Tribal Youth Hostel in Dwarka—leaves little time for other things they’re good at, football and music. “They’re also doing well in class. They’re the youngest here but have set an example for the others who are preparing for civil service exams,” says Dinesh Jha, assistant commissioner with his office at Utkarsh. Potai has an average score of 80% over five semesters; Usendi has 56% and Kurram—currently at home recovering from fever—has about 70%. “This experience has given us confidence,” says Potai. He’d encouraged Nag to pick DU physics over engineering in Hyderabad.
4. Nag is a second-year physics student at Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College. His mother, Kamala Vinay Nag, the district panchayat president, is a bit of a phenomenon back home. “She was abandoned by her father in Tikanpal. Villagers raised her and funded her education. She’s studied till Class XII,” says Nag. His father passed away in 2013 and a younger brother has cancer. Their treatment so debilitated the family’s resources that when Nag came to DU they “didn’t have enough to eat.” On his 2014 winter break, he’d encouraged his mother to contest elections and walked with her to the collector’s office to fife nominations. On his next visit, in winter 2015, he scuttled a child marriage.
5. Their homes are changing too. Buses now reach more villages—Usendi’s is 75 kilometres from Narayanpur, the district headquarters, but now has a road going to it—there are more CRPF personnel but electricity is still a problem. Nag says Dantewada is very different from its image. “It’s developing and we have everything. I posted photos of Chitrakoot and Tirathgarh waterfalls on Facebook and got many likes.
6. Abujmarh was inaccessible even to government surveyors for a long time. Till 2009, the Maoist stronghold was a no-go zone for “outsiders” and the government itself relied on NGOs to deliver basic services. Naturally, there’s still much ground to be covered. “People either don’t know about government schemes or how to sign up,” says Potai.
7. Jha is convinced the boys will speed things up. Potai is already preparing to write the state public service exams and has an inch-thick folder of notes to show for it. “I want to be in a position to do something for my people.”
7.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, complete the statements given below with the help of options that follow:
(a) Potai, Usendi and Kurram hail from …………………………. .
(i) Manipur
(ii) Forests
(iii) Ajubmarh-Gondi
(iv) Outskirts of Delhi
Answer:
(iii) Ajubmarh—Gondi
(b) When they moved to Delhi …………………………. .
(i) the Chief Minister organized a farewell
(ii) the village headman organized a reception
(iii) their families were reluctant
(iv) their friends came with them
Answer:
(i) the Chief Minister organized a farewell
(c) When Potai goes home he takes …………………………. .
(i) his Manipuri friend with him
(ii) the manager of the hostel
(iii) sweets from a shop in Dwarka
(iv) sweets from a shop in Connaught Place
Answer:
(iii) sweets from a shop in Dwarka
(d) Usendi’s home is …………………………. .
(i) in Dwarka
(ii) 75 km from Narayanpur
(iii) inDantewada
(iv) in Maoist stronghold
Answer:
(ii) 75 km from Narayanpur
(e) The fourth teen, Nihal Nag, hails from …………………………. .
(i) Gondi
(ii) Dantewada
(iii) Bastar
(iv) Manipur
Answer:
(ii) Dantewada
7.2 Answer the following.
(a) The first kids from Abujmarh-Gondi joined Delhi University in 2013. (True/False)
(b) The Chhattisgarh Tribal Youth Hostel, located in Dwarka in Delhi, is called …………………………. .
(c) Whose home is 75 km from Narayanpur?
(d) What rank does Nag’s mother hold in the district panchayat?
(e) Who said, “I want to be in a position to do something for my people”?
Answer:
(a) True
(b) Utkarsh
(c) Usendi’s
(d) president
(e) Potai
7. 3 Find words from the passage which mean the same as:
(a) historic (para 2)
(b) difficult to reach (para 6)
Answer:
(a) momentous
(b) inaccessible
Unseen Passage for Class 12 Pdf – 8
Read the poem given below.
The Cloud-Backed Heron Will Not Move:
He stares into the stream.
He stands unfaltering while the gulls
And oyster-catchers scream.
He does not hear, he cannot see
The great white horses of the sea,
But fixes eyes on stillness
Below their flying team.
How long will he remain, how long
Have the gray woods been green?
The sky and the reflected sky
Their glass he has not seen,
But silent as a speck of sand
Interpreting the sea and land,
His fall pulls down the fabric
Of all that windy scene.
Sailing with clouds and woods behind
Pausing in leisured flight,
He stepped, alighting on a stone,
Dropped from the stars of night.
He stood there unconcerned with day,
Deaf to the tumult of the bay,
Watching a stone in water,
A fish’s hidden light.
Sharp rocks drive back the breaking
waves Confusing sea with air.
Bundles of spray blown mountain-high
Have left the shingle bare.
A shipwrecked anchor wedged by rocks,
Loosed by the thundering equinox,
Divides the herded waters,
The stallion and his mare.
Yet no distraction breaks the watch
Of that time-killing bird.
He stands unmoving on the stone;
Since dawn he has not stirred.
Calamity about him cries,
But he has fixed his golden eyes
On water’s crooked tablet,
On light’s reflected word.
– Vernon Watkins
8.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above poem complete the statement giyen below with the help option that follow.
(a) Besides the heron the other birds in the vicinity are …………………………. .
(i) more herons
(iii) oysters and gulls
Answer:
(iv) oyster-catchers and gulls
(b) The heron in flight …………………………. .
(i) goes over clouds and woods
(iii) across the stars at night
Answer:
(i) goes over clouds and woods
(c) The sea is confused with air when …………………………. .
(i) there is a wind blowing
(iii) the shingles are exposed
Answer:
(ii) sharp rocks drive back the breaking waves.
(d) The bird on the stone has not stirred …………………………. .
(i) since daylight
(iii) since dawn
Answer:
(iii) since dawn
(e) The bird has fixed golden eyes even though …………………………. .
(i) there’s a disaster around
(iii) there’s dark around
Answer:
(i) there’s a disaster around
8.2 Answer the following.
(a) While the heron stands still in the water, the oyster-catchers scream.
(b) The heron remains deaf at the sounds of the bay.
(c) The heron alighted on a …………………………. after sailing across the sky.
(d) The shipwrecked anchor on the seashore is …………………………. in-between the rocks.
(e) The …………………………. has been described as the ‘time-killing’ bird.
Answer:
(a) True
(b) Trilfc
(c) stone
(d) wedged
(e) cloud-backed heron
8.3 Find words from the poem which mean the same as:
(a) steady (lines 1-8)
(b) a situation of loud noise and excitement (lines 17-24)
Answer:
(a) unfaltering
(b) tumult
Unseen Passage for Class 12 Pdf – 9
Read the passage given below.
1. Every Republic Day security in the city is beefed up. You can see a lot more of the four-legged, furry ‘canines on duty’ — everywhere from the Metro to the airport. While these trained dogs are sniffing around your bags, you might be tempted to pet them, but the CISF officials accompanying them do not approve of such behaviour on the commuters’ part. As one official puts it, “People fawn over them and ask us questions, but we don’t entertain anyone. Our dogs are soldiers, not showpieces.”
2. The CISF headquarters in Delhi have three breeds — German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers and Cocker Spaniels, and the officials claim that these are the best-trained dogs in the country.
3. We have seen Metro commuters fighting, shouting and arguing for seats and space. But if you have ever seen these four-legged soldiers in the Metro, you must have noticed how they don’t bark or even look at the commuters. Even in packed Metros, they never lose their cool. A CISF official says, “They won’t bark at or bite people. These dogs don’t bite anyone, unless given the command to attack by their trainers.”
4. Usually transported in the women’s coaches of the Metro, it is not uncommon to see girls and children going crazy as soon as they make an entrance. But they just ignore everyone and move only at the handler’s command. An official says, “A dog is obedient by nature. Our dogs and their handlers share a special bond, which is so strong that if the handler is on leave, the dog won’t even eat. They are trained to not touch or listen to anyone’s command except their handlers’. They also don’t eat anything given by someone else. We train three handlers with two dogs, so that when one handler is on leave, the dog doesn’t face an emotional crisis and stop eating or working.”
5. Talking about the training procedure, a CISF official says, “We procure the puppies when they are only six months old and then they are sent to the Border Security Force Academy, Tekanpur, Gwalior, for a six-month training period with their handlers (both are trained together). After the training, when the dog is a year old, he is sent for the appointed service, which he continues for the next nine years. Each dog is named by his handler and like soldiers, these dogs also have their certificates and service records.”
6. If you think these canines lead a dog’s life, you are mistaken. Says a CISF official, “He is not a dog for us; he is a soldier who assists us in our operations.” The official adds, “All the dogs in the kennel are trained twice a day — morning and evening. They have a fixed diet and feeding time — what the dog will eat at what time of the day is decided by doctors. As these dogs have to carry out several duties and have to stand and move for hours, they need to eat healthy.”
7. Pet parents should learn how to take care of their dogs from these CISF officials, who consider the members of the dog brigade their colleagues. The CISF has four kennels in Delhi and each dog gets a separate room, which it doesn’t have to share with another dog. Each dog also has its own belongings — a blanket, shampoo, towel — with its name on it. During the winter, they have heaters and during the summer, they have a personal cooler.
8. A soldier needs to be fit and if a dog soldier is not fit, its service has to be discontinued. Says an official, “We can’t help it. If a dog becomes bulky, we can’t take it for duty because it has to travel a lot and won’t be fit enough for all the activities. At present, we have divided all the Metro lines in two-three sub-divisions, and each dog has a four-hour duty daily.”
9.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, complete the statements given below with the help of options that follow:
(a) People are forbidden to pet sniffer dogs as they are …………………………. .
(i) ferocious creatures
(ii) their officials’ pets
(iii) not metro commuters
(iv) soldiers, not showpieces
Answer:
(iv) soldiers, not showpieces
(b) These dogs do not bite anyone unless …………………………. .
(i) they are given a command to do so
(ii) they are hungry
(iii) someone irritates
Answer:
(i) they are given a command to do so
(iv) their trainers beat them …………………………. .
(c) When their handler is on leave they
(i) are given a day off
(ii) do not work willingly
(iii) do not eat
(iv) eat a lot
Answer:
(iii) they do not eat
(d) The diet and timing of meals is decided by their …………………………. .
(i) handlers
(ii) appetites
(iii) duties
(iv) doctor
Answer:
(iv) doctor
(e) ‘People fawn over them and ask us questions.’ Fawn over in the above line refers to …………………………. .
(i) try to cheat someone
(ii) try to please someone
(iii) hate someone
(iv) both (i) and (ii)
Answer:
(ii) try to please someone
9.2 Answer the following.
(a) The CISF dogs are showpieces and not soldiers. (True/False)
(b) The CISF dogs are usually transported in the women’s coaches on the Metro. (True/False)
(c) The dogs are trained at the Tekanpur Security Force Academy, on the border. (TFue/False)
(d) All the dogs of the CISF are trained …………………………. a day.
(e) The daily duty hours for the CISF dogs is …………………………. hours.
Answer:
(a) False
(b) True
(d) twice
(e) four
9.3 Find words from the passage which mean the same as:
(a) order (para 3)
(b) obtain (para 5)
Answer:
(a) command
(b) procure
Unseen Passage for Class 12 Pdf – 10
Read the poem given below.
I DREAM’D that as I wander’d by the way
Bare winter suddenly was changed to Spring,
And gentle odours led my steps astray,
Mix’d with a sound of waters murmuring
Along a shelving bank of turf, which lay
Under a copse, and hardly dared to fling
Its green arms round the bosom of the strean
But kiss’d it and then fled, as Thou mightest in dream.
There grew pied wind-flowers and violets,
Daisies, those pearl d Arctun of the earth,
The constellated flower that ne er sets;
Faint oxlips; tender bluebells, at .vnose birth
The sod scarce heaved; and that tall flower that wets—
Like a child, half in k nderness and mirth—
Its mother’s face with heaven-collected tears,
When the low wind, its playmate’s voice, it hears.
And in the warm hedge grew lush eglantine,
Green cow-bind and the moonlight-color’d May,
And cherry-blossoms, and white cups, whose wine
Was the bright dew yet drain’d not by the day;
And wild roses, and ivy serpentine
With its dark buds and leaves, wandering astray;
And flowers azure, black, and streak’d with gold,
Fairer than any waken’d eyes behold.
And nearer to the river’s trembling edge
There grew broad flag-flowers, purple prank’d with white,
And starry river-buds among the sedge,
And floating water-lilies, broad and bright,
Which lit the oak that overhung the hedge ’
With moonlight beams of their own watery light;
And bulrushes, and reeds of such deep green
As soothed the dazzled eye with sober sheen.
Methought that of these visionary flowers
I made a nosegay, bound in such a way
That the same hues, which in their natural bowers
Were mingled or opposed, the like array
Kept these imprison’d children of the
Hours Within my hand,—and then, elate and gay,
I hasten’d to the spot whence
I had come That I might there present it—O! to Whom?
—P.B. Shelley
10.1 On the basis of your understanding of the poem, complete the statements given below with the help of options that follow:
(a) The poet had dreamt that …………………………. .
(i) bare summer had given way to spring
(ii) spring suddenly changed to winter
(iii) summer and winter were together
(iv) bare winter had changed to spring
Answer:
(iv) bare winter had changed to spring
(b) The poet had wandered in his dream …………………………. .
(i) on to a bank of turf
(ii) under the river
(iii) under a copse round the bosom of the stream
(iv) into a dream
Answer:
(i) on to a bank of turf
(c) What the poet saw growing along the banks were …………………………. .
(i) a variety of flowers
(ii) a variety of cows
(iii) his fair eyes awakened
(iv) a dazzling of sunshine
Answer:
(i) a variety of flowers
(d) The poet imagined that …………………………. .
(i) he kept the flowers as a gift
(ii) he made the flowers into a nosegay
(iii) the flowers present themselves
(iv) the flowers were opposed to one another
Answer:
(ii) he made the flowers into a nosegay
(e) Bosom of the stream refers to …………………………. .
(i) the depth of the stream
(ii) the bottom of the stream
(iii) the breast of the stream
(iv) both (i) and (ii)
Answer:
(iii) the breast of the stream
10.2 Answer the following.
(a) As the poet wandered by the way, winter suddenly changed to spring.
(b) The poet wants to present his nosegay of flowers to himself.
(c) The flower that grew in the hedges was …………………………. .
(d) The reeds and bulrushes by the river were …………………………. in colour.
(e) In the waters of the river grew …………………………. .
Answer:
(a) True
(b) False
(c) eglantine
(d) green
(e) water-lilies
10.3 Find words from the passage which mean the same as:
(a) earth (lines 10—15)
(b) blue (lines 20—25)
Answer:
(a) sod
(b) azure
Unseen Passage for Class 12 Pdf – 11
Read the passage given below.
1. When you grow up in a place where it rains five months a year, wise elders help you to get acquainted with the rain early. They teach you that it is ignorant to think that it is the same rain falling every day. Oh no, the rain is always doing different things at different times. There is rain that is gentle, and there is also rain that falls too hard and damages the crops. Hence, the prayer for the sweet rain that helps the crops to grow.
2. The monsoon in the Naga hills goes by the native name, khuthotei (which means the rice-growing season). It lasts from May to early or mid-October. The local residents firmly believe that Durga Puja in October announces the end of rain. After that, one might expect a couple of short winter showers, and the spring showers in March and April. Finally, comes the “big rain” in May; proper rainstorms accompanied by heart-stopping lightning and ear-splitting thunder. I have stood out in storms looking at lightning arc across dark skies, a light-and-sound show that can go on for hours.
3. This is the season when people use the word sezuo or siizu to refer to the week-long rains, when clothes don’t dry and smell of mould, when fungus forms on the floor and when you can’t see the moon or the stars because of the rainclouds. But you learn not to complain. Rain, after all, is the farmer’s friend and brings food to the table. Rituals and festivals centre around the agricultural rhythm of life, which is the occupation of about 70 per cent of the population.
4. The wise learn to understand its ways. I grew up hearing my grandfather say, “It’s very windy this year. We’ll get good rain.” If the windy season was short and weak, he worried there might not be enough rain for the crops. I learned the interconnectedness of the seasons from childhood, and marvelled at how the wind could bring rain. Another evening, many rainy seasons ago, my paternal aunt observed the new moon and worried, “Its legs are in the air, we’re in for some heavy rain.” She was right. That week, a storm cut off power lines and brought down trees and bamboos.
5. Eskimos boast of having a hundred names for snow. Norwegians in the north can describe all kinds of snow by an equal amount of names: pudder, powder snow, wet snow, slaps, extra wet snow, tight snowfall, dry snow, and at least 95 more categories of snow. Likewise, in India we have names and names for rain. Some are common, some are passing into history.
6. The rains are also called after flowering plants and people believe that the blossoming of those plants draws out rain. Once the monsoons set in, field work is carried out in earnest and the work of uprooting and transplanting paddy in flooded terrace fields is done. The months of hard labour are June, July and August. In August, as the phrogii plant begins to bloom, a rain will fall. This August rain, also called phrogii, is a sign that the time for cultivation is over. If any new grain seeds are sown, they may not sprout; even if they do sprout, they are not likely to bear grain. The rain acts as a kind of farmer’s almanac.
7. The urban population of school-goers and office-goers naturally dislikes the monsoon and its accompanying problems of landslides, muddy streets and periodic infections. For non-farmers, the month of September can be depressing, when the rainfall is incessant and the awareness persists that the monsoons will last out till October. One needs to have the heart of a farmer to remain grateful for the watery days, and be able to observe — from what seems to the inexperienced as a continuous downpour — the many kinds of rain. Some of the commonly known rain-weeks are named after the plants that alternately bloom in August and September. The native belief is that the flowers draw out the rain.
8. Each rain period has a job to fulfil: October rain helps garlic bulbs to form, while kiimunyo rain helps the rice bear grain. Without it, the ears of rice cannot form properly. End October is the most beautiful month in the Naga hills, as the fields turn gold and wild sunflowers bloom over the slopes, all heralding the harvest. Prayers go up for protecting the fields from storms, and the rains to retreat because the grain needs to stand in the sun and ripen. The cycle nears completion a few weeks before the harvest, and the rain does retreat so thoroughly from the reaped furrows that the earth quickly turns hard. The months of rain become a distant memory until it starts all over again.
11.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, complete the statements given below with the help of options that follow.
(a) The rains are called after flowering plants because …………………………. .
(i) heavy rains kill plants.
(ii) flowers grow in the rainy season.
(iii) it is believed that the plants bring the rain.
(iv) flowers grow all the year round.
Answer:
(iii) it is believed that the plants bring the rain.
(b) The rain is like a calendar for farmers because …………………………. .
(i) it tells them when to sow and when to harvest.
(ii) it tells them the birthdays of their children.
(iii) each month has a time for plantation.
(iv) different kinds of rain tell different things.
Answer:
(i) it tells them when to sow and when to harvest.
(c) People who live in cities don’t like rain because …………………………. .
(i) it brings mud and sickness with it.
(ii) they are not bothered about the farmers.
(iii) they don’t like the plants that grow during the rain.
(iv) going shopping becomes difficult.
Answer:
(i) it brings mud and sickness with it.
(d) People pray asking the rain to retreat because …………………………. .
(i) the fungus and mould need to dry.
(ii) children don’t get a chance to play.
(iii) the crops need the sun and heat to ripen.
(iv) they like to pray.
Answer:
(iii) the crops need the sun and heat to ripen.
(e) People learn not to complain because …………………………. .
(i) they have become better and wise.
(ii) rain is farmer’s friend and brings food to the table.
(iii) they cannot satisfy the rain gods.
(iv) they can’t change the weather cycles.
Answer:
(ii) rain is farmer’s friend and brings food to the table.
11.2 Answer the following.
(a) The native name for the monsoon in the Naga Hills is ‘khuthotei’.
(b) During week-long rains, fungus forms on the floor, and clothes smell mouldy.
(c) Some rain names are the same as those given by Eskimos.
(d) Eriodic infections happen during the …………………………. season.
(e) The …………………………. rain helps the ears of rice form.
Answer:
(a) True
(b) True
(c) False
(d) monsoon
(e) kumunyu (rain)
11.3 Answer the following.
(a) harm something (para 1)
(b) flowering (para 6)
Answer:
(a) damage
(b) blossoming
Unseen Passage for Class 12 Pdf – 12
Read the passage given below.
1. We sit in the last row, bumped about but free of stares. The bus rolls out of the dull crossroads of the city, and we are soon in the open countryside, with fields of sunflowers as far as the eye can see, their heads all facing us. Where there is no water, the land reverts to a desert. While still on level ground we see in the distance the tall range of the Mount Bogda, abrupt like a shining prism laid horizontally on the desert surface. It is over 5,000 metres high, and the peaks are under permanent snow, in powerful contrast to the flat desert all around. Heaven Lake lies part of the way up this range, about 2,000 metres above sea-level, at the foot of one of the higher snow- peaks.
2. As the bus climbs, the sky, brilliant before, grows overcast. I have brought nothing warm to wear: it is all down at the hotel in Urumqi. Rain begins to fall. The man behind me is eating overpoweringly smelly goat’s cheese. The bus window leaks inhospitably but reveals a beautiful view. We have passed quickly from desert through arable land to pasture, and the ground is now green with grass, the slopes dark with pine. A few cattle drink at a clear stream flowing past moss-covered stones; it is a Constable landscape. The stream changes into a white torrent, and as we climb higher I wish more and more that I had brought with me something warmer than the pair of shorts that have served me so well in the desert. The stream (which, we are told, rises in Heaven Lake) disappears, and we continue our slow ascent. About noon, we arrive at Heaven Lake, and look for a place to stay at the foot, which is the resort area. We get a room in a small cottage, and I am happy to note that there are thick quilts on the beds.
3. Standing outside the cottage we survey our surroundings. Heaven Lake is long, sardine-shaped and fed by snowmelt from a stream at its head. The lake is an intense blue, surrounded on all sides by green mountain walls, dotted with distant sheep. At the head of the lake, beyond the delta of the inflowing stream, is a massive snow-capped peak which dominates the vista; it is part of a series of peaks that culminate, a little out of view, in Mount Bogda itself.
4. For those who live in the resort there is a small mess-hall by the shore. We eat here sometimes, and sometimes buy food from the vendors outside, who sell kabab and naan until the last buses leave. The kababs, cooked on skewers over charcoal braziers, are particularly good; highly spiced and well-done. Horse’s milk is available too from the local Kazakh herdsmen, but I decline this. I am so affected by the cold that Mr. Cao, the relaxed young man who runs the mess, lends me a spare pair of trousers, several sizes too large but more than comfortable. Once I am warm again, I feel a pre-dinner spurt of energy — dinner will be long in coming — and I ask him whether the lake is good for swimming in.
5. “Swimming?” Mr. Cao says. “You aren’t thinking of swimming, are you?” _
6. “I thought I might,” I confess. “What’s the water like?”
7. He doesn’t answer me immediately, turning instead to examine some receipts with exaggerated interest. Mr. Cao, with great off-handedness, addresses the air. “People are often drowned here,” he says. After a pause, he continues. “When was the last one?” This question is directed at the cook, who is preparing a tray of mantou (squat white steamed bread rolls), and who now appears, wiping his doughy hand across his forehead. “Was it the Beijing athlete?” asks Mr. Cao.
12.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, complete the statements given below with the help of options that follow.
(a) One benefit of sitting in the last row of the bus was that …………………………. .
(i) the narrator enjoyed the bumps.
(ii) no one stared at him.
(iii) he could see the sunflowers.
(iv) he avoided the dullness of the city.
Answer:
(ii) no one stared at him.
(b) The narrator was travelling to …………………………. .
(i) Mount Bogda
(ii) Heaven Lake
(iii) a 2000-metre high snow peak
(iv) Urumqi
Answer:
(i) Mount Bogda/ (ii) Heaven Lake
(c) On reaching the destination, the narrator felt relieved because …………………………. .
(i) he’ had got away from the desert.
(ii) a difficult journey had come to an end.
(iii) he could watch the snow peak.
(iv) there were thick quilts on the bed.
Answer:
(iv) there were thick quilts on the bed.
(d) Mount Bogda is compared to …………………………. .
(i) a horizontal desert surface
(ii) a shining prism
(iii) a Constable landscape
(iv) the overcast sky
Answer:
(ii) a shining prism
(e) As the bus climbed higher and higher, the author wished that …………………………. .
(i) he hadn’t made the journey
(ii) they reached the hotel soon
(iii) he had brought something warmer.
(iv) he could go to sleep.
Answer:
(iii) that he had brought something warmer.
12.2 Answer the following.
(a) In the distance is the tall range of Mount Bogda.
(b) The man sitting behind the author was eating smelly cow’s cheese.
(c) The author reached his destination at Heaven Lake by noon.
(d) Horse’s milk is available from the …………………………. herdsmen.
(e) The mess by the shore of the lake is run by …………………………. .
Answer:
(a) True
(b) False
(c) True
(d) Kazakh
(e) Mr Cao
12.3 Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following.
(a) a sudden increase (para 4)
(b) sellers (para 4)
Answer:
(a) spurt
(b) vendors
Unseen Passage for Class 12 Pdf – 13
Read the Passage given below.
1. Indian tourism industry is growing at a rapid rate. The World Travel & Tourism Council calculated that tourism generated INR 6.4 trillion or 6.6% of the nation’s GDP in 2012. It supported 39.5 million jobs, 7.7% of its total employment. The sector is predicted to grow at an average annual rate of 7.9% from 2013 to 2023. This gives India the third rank among countries with the fastest growing tourism industries over the next decade. India’s rich history and its cultural and geographical diversity make its international tourism appeal large and diverse.
2. Mehrangarh Fort located in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, is one of the largest forts in India and a place of major tourist attraction. Though the fort was originally started in 1459 by Rao Jodha, founder of Jodhpur, most of the fort which stands today dates from the period of Jaswant Singh (1638-78). The foundation of the fort was laid on May 12,1459 by Jodha on a rocky hill, 9 kilometres to the south of Mandore with the trusted aid of Rao Nara. This hill was known as Bhaurcheeria, the mountain of birds.
3. According to a legend, to build the fort Rao Jodha had to displace the hill’s sole human occupant, a hermit called Cheeria Nathji, the lord of birds. Upset at being forced to move Cheeria Nathji cursed Rao Jodha with “Jodha! May your citadel ever suffer a scarcity of water”. Rao Jodha managed to appease the hermit by building a house and a temple in the fort, very near the cave, the hermit had used for meditation. Even today, the area is plagued by drought every 3 to 4 years.
4. The fort’s walls, which are up to 36 metres (118 ft) high and 21 metres (69 ft) wide, protect some of the most beautiful and historic palaces in Rajasthan. Entry to the fort is gained through a series of seven gates. The imprints of cannonball hits, by attacking armies of Jaipur, can still be seen on the second gate. To the left of the fort is the chhatri of Kirat Singh Soda, a soldier who fell on the spot defending the fort.
5. Within the fort, several brilliantly crafted and decorated palaces are found which are known for their intricate carvings and expansive courtyards. Of these, Moti Mahal (Pearl Palace), Phool Mahal (Flower Palace), Sheesha Mahal (Mirror Palace), Sileh Khana, and Daulat Khana are notable. The museum in the fort is one of the most well-stocked museums in Rajasthan. In one section of the fort museum there is a selection of old royal palanquins, including the elaborate domed gilt Mahadol palanquin which was won in a battle from the Governor of Gujarat in 1730. The museum exhibits the heritage of the Rathores in arms, costumes, paintings and decorated period rooms. One can also see royal cradles, miniatures, musical instruments, costumes and furniture in the museum.
6. Mehrangarh (etymology: ‘Mihir’ (Sanskrit) Sun-deity; ‘garh’ (Sanskrit)-fort; i.e. ‘Sun-fort’); according to Rajasthani language pronunciation conventions, ‘Mihirgarh’ has changed to ‘Mehrangarh’; the Sun-deity has been the chief deity of the Rathore dynasty.
7 The 500-year-old fort is a popular site for filming. The movie, The Dark Knight Rises, which was released in June 2012, was shot here.
8 The ramparts of the fort are home to not only several excellently preserved old cannons (including the famous Kilkila) but also offer a breathtaking view of the city.
13.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, complete the statements given below with the help of options that follow:
(a) Indian tourism industry may grow at an annual average rate of …………………………. over the next decade.
(i) 6.6%
(ii) 7.7%
(iii) 7.8%
(iv) 7.9%
Answer:
(iv) 7.9%
(b) The foundation of the fort was laid by …………………………. with the help of …………………………. .
(i) Rao Nara, Rao Jodha
(ii) Rao Jodha, Rao Nara
(iii) Rao Nara, Kirat Singh Soda
(iv) Rao Jodha, Jaswant Singh
Answer:
(ii) Rao Jodha, Rao Nara
(c) The imprints of cannonball hits can be seen on the …………………………. gate out of a total of …………………………. gates.
(i) second; seventh
(ii) third; seventh
(iii) fifth; sixth
(iv) fourth; seventh
Answer:
(i) second; seventh
(d) ‘Mehrangarh’ means …………………………. .
(i) sun-god
(ii) sun-deity
(iii) sun-fort
(iv) sun-gate
Answer:
(iii) sun-fort
(e) Cheeria Nathji cursed Rao Jodha by saying may …………………………. .
(i) your citadel be flooded!
(ii) your citadel get destroyed!
(iii) your citadel suffer a drought!
(iv) all fall ill in your citadel!
Answer:
(iii) your citadel suffer a drought!
13.2 Answer the following.
(a) The Mehrangarh Fort built in 1459, was built by Rao Jodha.
(b) The hill on which the fort is built was occupied by a mountain of birds.
(c) The hermit built a temple and house for himself in the fort.
(d) The Mahadol palanquin in the fort’s museum was won in a …………………………. .
(e) The most famous old cannon at the fort is the …………………………. .
Answer:
(a) Thie
(b) False
(c) False
(d) battle
(e) Kilkila cannon
13.3 Niid words from the passage which means the same as:
(i) different (para 1)
(ii) pacify (para 3)
Answer:
(i) diverse
(ii) appease
Unseen Passage for Class 12 Pdf – 14
Read the passage given below.
1. New Year is a holiday celebration that includes New Year’s Eve and lasts through New Year’s Day. New Year’s celebrations have been around for a long time in one form or another. They can be traced all the way back to the Babylonians at around 2,000 B.C. New Year’s Day was not always celebrated on January 1st as it is today. In its earliest times, the New Year was celebrated in the spring, as new life began to emerge in the world.
2. This tradition is quite sensible in relation to the seasons, however ancient cultures struggled to create a calendar that could retain alignment with the sun. The Romans went through several versions of calendars in which they inevitably changed the first day of the year to January first. Their final change to the calendar was made by Julius Caesar in the ear 46 B.C. (the Julian calendar). Caesar also adopted January 1st as the first day of the year. The Julian calendar became the basis for our current calendar, so New Year’s Day is found at the top of the calendar on January 1st.
3. Certain Roman traditions of the New Year have remained in some form to this day. Among the many Roman gods was Janus, a two-headed god. Janus was considered the god of beginnings and endings, and the guardian of gates and doors. One of the heads of Janus faced forward and the other looked back. This figure was a symbol of good beginnings and endings to the RomAnswer: One head was able to look backward to reflect upon what had passed, while the other could look forward to what was coming. The word Janus is closely related to the word January.
4. The Romans considered the significance of Janus when they established their calendar, and named the first month after him. This Roman belief has continued on, in tradition to this day. In many ways, the modern celebration of New Year’s Day carries on ancient traditions. The holiday itself is celebrated from New Year’s Eve (in the old year) and continued on through New Year’s Day.
5. By observing the holiday in this manner, we are encouraged to look at the previous year as it passes away and to welcome the new one with renewed enthusiasm and desire to improve ourselves. New Year’s Day has traditionally been a day to enjoy a happiness that will hopefully endure throughout the year. With the old year gone, and the New Year just beginning, it is a great time to fulfil another New Year’s tradition—to make resolutions.
6. On New Year’s Day, people begin to work at goals that will improve their circumstances. Some people achieve their New Year’s resolutions, while others lose sight of them over time. Here are a few ideas for making resolutions and a few ideas on how to achieve them.
7. It is good to set personal goals, but it can also be beneficial to set goals as a family. Sit down as a family and discuss a few ideas that you would like to achieve together. Working on goals as a family can be fun and rewarding. An additional benefit of working on goals as a family is that it gives you a support system that can make it easier to succeed. Set only a few goals, that are easy to remember and can be accorhplished — reasonably and realistically.
8 Making too many goals can complicate your efforts and make you lose sight of many of them altogether. It is amazing how the rush of, life can quickly overtake the genuinely good intentions of worthy goals. When goals are not written down, they can be easily forgotten. Write your goals down and post them somewhere where you will see them regularly. When your goals are written and clearly visible, you will be more likely to remember them and to follow good habits that lead to success.
9. Choose at least one resolution that will make you happy now. Many of the goals people choose are ones that lead to greater stress, discomfort, or displeasure, at least for the short term. A few examples are dieting, getting a better job, and quitting a bad habit like smoking. These are worthy goals, but they frequently cause greater stress while trying to achieve them.
10. In addition to these kind of goals, choose a goal that increases your happiness such as taking an hour to relax each day, starting a new hobby, or spending time daily with the kids. The celebration of New Year’s Day is all about putting the past behind and looking forward to new and exciting things to come. Although Roman civilization passed from existence long ago, its traditions continue to influence the way New Year’s Day is celebrated today.
14.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, complete the statemenfs given below with the help of options that follow:
(a) Ancient cultures struggled to create a calendar that could retain alignment with …………………………. .
(i) the sun
(ii) the moon
(iii) stars
(iv) the spring season
Answer:
(i) the sun
(b) The word Janus is closely related to the word …………………………. .
(i) Julius
(ii) January
(iii) Julian
(iv) June
Answer:
(ii) January
(c) For successful accomplishment of goals, it is necessary to work on them …………………………. .
(i) with colleagues
(ii) with friends
(iii) with family
(iv) personally
Answer:
(iii) with family
(d) In order to remember the goals one should …………………………. .
(i) memorize them
(ii) share them
(iii) write them on a paper
(iv) post them
Answer:
(iii) write them on a paper
(e) Janus the two-headed God was considered the guardians of …………………………. .
(i) gates and windows
(ii) doors and windows
(iii) gates and doors
(iv) windows and balconies
Answer:
(iii) gates and doors
14.2 Answer the following.
(a) The Roman god Janus had two heads, facing in front only. (True/False)
(b) A great tradition at New Year is to make false resolutions. (True/False)
(c) Though Roman civilization is long over, its New Year traditions continue to influence New Year celebrations. (True/False)
(d) …………………………. adopted January 1st as the first day of the year.
(e) When goals are not written down they can be easily …………………………. .
Answer:
(a) False
(b) False
(c) True
(d) Julius Caesar
(e) forgotten
14.3 Find words from the passage which mean the opposite of the following:
(i) non-alignment (para 2)
(ii) discouraged (para 5)
Answer:
(i) Alignment
(ii) encouraged
Unseen Passage for Class 12 Pdf – 15
Read the passage given below.
1. Though more than a year has passed since the E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules came into effect in May 2012, their implementation is still in a nascent stage, at least in Varanasi, one of the major cities of Uttar Pradesh. In fact, the state ranks fourth among the 10 largest e-waste generating states in the country.
2. The e-waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011 mandate for safe disposal of electronic and electrical wastes through private bodies. According to the UPSPCB official, it is mandatory for the municipal corporation to provide a site to the private firm for proper disposal of e-waste. The site for this purpose has been made available in Ram Nagar area, he said. The E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011 also suggest that it is the responsibility of the municipal corporation to ensure that e-waste, if found to be mixed with municipal solid waste, is properly segregated, collected and is channelized to either authorized collection centre or dismantler or recycler.
3. The Research Unit of the Rajya Sabha has compiled a comprehensive report on e-waste in India. According to the report, there are 10 states that contribute up to 70 per cent of the total e-waste generated in the country, while 65 cities generate more than 60 per cent of the total e-waste in India. Among the 10 largest e-waste generating states, Maharashtra ranks first followed by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi, Karnataka, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab.
4. All over the world, the quantity of electrical and electronic waste generated each year, especially by computers and televisions, has assumed alarming proportions.
5. Globally, about 20-50 MT (million tonnes) of e-wastes is disposed of each year, which accounts for 5% of all municipal solid waste. A report of the United Nations predicted that by 2020, e-waste from old computers would jump by 400 percent on 2007 levels in China and by 500 percent in India. Additionally, e-waste from discarded mobile phones would be about seven tips higher than 2007 levels and, in India, 18 times higher by 2020. Such predictions highlight the urgent need to address the problem of e-waste in developing countries like India where the collection and management of e-waste and the recycling process is yet to be properly regulated.
6. E-waste releases many toxic substances that are serious health hazards. Unless suitable safety measures are taken, these toxic substances can critically affect the health of employees and others in the vicinity — who manually sort and treat the waste — by entering their body through respiratory tracts, through the skin, or through the mucous membrane of the mouth and the digestive tract. Therefore, the health impact of e-waste is evident. There is no doubt that it has been linked to the growing incidence of several lethal or severely debilitating health conditions, including cancer, neurological and respiratory disorders, and birth defects.
7. This impact is found to be worse in developing countries like India where people engaged in recycling e-waste are mostly in the unorganized sector, living in close proximity to dumps or landfills of untreated e-waste and working without any protection or safeguards. Many workers engaged in these recycling operations are the urban poor and unaware of the hazards associated with them. (Source: TNN)
15.1 On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, complete the statements given below . with the help of options that follow:
(a) It is mandatory that the …………………………. should provide a proper e-disposal site to private firms.
(i) municipal committee
(ii) municipal corporation
(iii) health ministry
(iv) area counselor
Answer:
(ii) municipal corporation
(b) After segregation, the e-waste should be …………………………. .
(i) reused
(ii) reduced
(iii) recycled
(iv) resold
Answer:
(iii) recycled
(c) By 2020, e-waste from old computers would jump by …………………………. percent on 2007 level in India.
(i) 300
(ii) 400
(iii) 500
(iv) 600
Answer:
(iii) 500
(d) The toxic substances enter the body through …………………………. .
(i) respiratory tracts
(ii) skin
(iii) digestive tract
(iv) all of these
Answer:
(i) respiratory tracts
(e) The implementation of e-waste rules is still in a nascent stage which means …………………………. .
(i) completely developed stage
(ii) not yet fully developed stage
(iii) in an unknown stage
(iv) both (i) and (iii)
Answer:
(ii) not yet fully developed stage
15.2 Answer the following.
(a) The E-waste (Management and Handling) Rules came into effect in May 2012. (True/False)
(b) In Uttar Pradesh, Ram Nagar is the site for e-waste management. (True/False)
(c) The Rajya Sabha has compiled a report on e-waste in India. (True/False)
(d) There is an urgent need to address e-waste management …………………………. in countries.
(e) In India people engaged in recycling e-waste are mostly in the …………………………. sector.
Answer:
(a) True
(b) False
(c) False
(d) developing
(e) unorganized
15.3 Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following:
(i) compulsory (para 2)
(ii) surroundings (para 6)
Answer:
(i) mandatory
(ii) vicinity