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Passage
When we are suddenly confronted with; any
terrible danger, the change of
nature we undergo is equally great. In some cases fear
paralyses us. Like animals,
we stand still, powerless to move a step in fright or to
lift a hand defence of our
lives, and sometimes we are seized with panic, and again,
act more like the inferior
animals than rational beings. On the other hand,
frequently in cases of sudden
extreme peril, which cannot be escaped by flight, and
must be instantly faced, even
the most timid men at once as if by miracle, become
possessed of the necessary
courage, sharp quick apprehension, and swift decision.
This is a miracle very
common in nature. Man and the inferior animals alike,
when confronted with
almost certain death ‘gather resolution, from 'despair'
but there can really be no
trace of so debilitating a feeling in the person
fighting, or prepared to fight for
dear life. At such times the mind is clearer than it has
ever been; the nerves are steel,
there is nothing felt buts a wonderful strength and
daring. Looking Back at
certain perilous moments in my own life, I remember them
with a kind of joy, not that
there was any joyful excitement then but because they
brought me a new experience
a new nature, as it were- and lifted me for a time above
myself.
1. Explain the
phrase ‘gather resolution from danger’.
(a) Find hope and courage
(b) A state of utter hopelessness steels one to fight out
the danger
(c) Not to lose hope, but fight
(d) Find courage to face the danger
Answer. (b)
2. The author
names three different ways in which a man may react to sudden
danger. What are they?
(a) He may flee in panic, or fight back or stand still.
(b) He, may be paralyzed with fear, seized with panic or
act like an inferior animal.
(c) He may he paralyzed with fear, or seized with panic,
or as if by miracle, become
possessed of
the necessary courage, and face the danger.
(d) He may be paralyzed with fear, run away or fight.
Answer. (c)
3. The author feels happy in the
recollection of dangers faced and overcome because
(a) They brought him a new
experience.
(b) They brought him a new experience, and lifted him
above himself for a time.
(c) He survived his ordeal.
(d) He was lucky to be alive.
Answer. (b)
4. An appropriate
title for the above passage would be
(a) The Will to Fight
(b) The Miracle of Confronting Danger
(c) The Change of Nature
(d) Courage and Panic
Answer. (b)
5. The distinction-between
‘inferior animals’ and ‘rational beings’ is that
(a) The former are incapable of fighting.
(b) The latter are clever.
(c) The latter are stronger.
(d) The latter are capable of reasoning things out
whereas the former cannot do.
Answer. (d)
Passage 2
It will be a mistake to think that he was given only
‘bouquets’, he also received
many ‘brickbats’. The Christian missionaries took alarm
at his popularity. They used to
raise funds by preaching that India was a land of heathens
waiting to be saved by
Christianity. The American press now began to say that it
was a ‘shame that anybody
should try to teach India religion, rather the world
should sit at her feet to learn it.
Vivekananda also said that India did not
need religion but material support.
The missionaries found that the
subscriptions they had so long been receiving from the
people were steadily declining. They blamed
it on Swami ji. They now started denigrating
him in all manner of ways. They even began
to spread scandals against his personal
character. Strangely enough, even some of
his own countrymen joined them in this for
reasons of their own. But ‘Truth alone
prevails’, as Swami ji always preached. He did not
try to defend himself, but others stood up
for him and vehemently protested. Finally, all
such mean attempts failed and his reputation
only rose higher and higher.
6. Vivekananda was
criticised by mission arise in America because
(a) He was a had student of Western theology
(b) He opposed the tenets of Christianity
(c) Americans had become very fond of him
(d) He did not allow them to raise funds in India
Answer. (c)
7. Vivekananda did not defend himself
because
(a) He believed in the ultimate triumph of truth.
(b) He was in a foreign land.
(c) Some of his countrymen were opposing him.
(d) He had brought many friends along to fight for him.
Answer. (a)
8. Swami
Vivekananda told the American people that India
(a) Did not approve of the Catholic Church
(b) Would teach religion to those who sit at her feet
(c) Required religious and material help
(d) Was self sufficient in religion though poor
Answer. (d)
9. The passage
teaches us
(a) Not to believe in religions other than our own
(b) Not to get involved in scandals
(c) Not to visit foreign lands
(d) Not to deviate from the path of truth
Answer. (d)
10. Vivekananda’s report with the American
people
(a) Helped India get substantial aid
(b) Made his friends desert him
(c) Annoyed the American Government
(d) Caused a drop in Church’s collections
Answer. (d)
Passage 3
A hook is written, not to multiply the voice merely, not
to carry it merely but
to perpetuate it . The author has something to say which
he perceives to be
true and useful; or helpfully beautiful. So far he knows
no one has said it, so far
as he knows no one else can say it the is bound to say it
clearly and melodiously if
he may; clearly at all events. In the sum of his life, he
finds this- to be the thing or
group of things, manifest’ him; this, the piece of true
knowledge, or sight, which his
share of sunshine and earth has permitted him to seize.
That is a book.
11. According to
the writer, a person is impelled to write a book, because
(a) He wishes to satisfy his ego.
(b) He has something nice and pleasing to say.
(c) He is capable of expressing whatever he wants to say.
(d) He has discovered something unique true and good
which he must convey
distinctly and musically.
Answer. (d)
12. The opening
sentence of the passage implies that the aim of writing a book is to.
(a) Repeat the message it contains
(b) Enable the author to express his ideas in writing
(c) Preserve from 'extinction the message it contains
(d) Propagate the ideology of the author
Answer. (d)
13. Which of the
following is not implied in the passage?
(a) A writer
is motivated to write a book if he discerns a great truth.
(b) An author of a book generally gathers some common
truths and gives them a
popular and
pleasing expression.
(c) A great writer is convinced that whatever
he says is not an echo or imitation of what
others have said.
(d) An eminent writer’s message is conveyed through plain
unambiguous language.
Answer. (b)
14. Which of the
following would be the most suitable title for the passage?
(a) Contribution of an author
(b) Aim of writing a book
(c) Book- the source of true knowledge
(d) Writers and their books
Answer. (c)
15. Which of the following is opposite in meaning
to the word manifest given in
the passage ?
(a) Unclear
(b) Dark
(c) Pure
(d) Hard
Answer. (a)
Passage 4
The artificial ways of inducing sleep are legion, and are
only alike in their ineffectuality. In Lauengro there is an impossible
character, a victim of insomnia, who finds that as volume of Words worth’s poems is the
only sure soporific, but that was Borrows’ Malice. The famous old plan of counting
sheep jumping over a style has never served a turn. I have herded imaginary sheep until
they insisted on turning
themselves into white bears or blue pigs, and I defy any
reasonable man to fall asleep
while mustering a herd of stupid swine.
16. In order to
cure his insomnia, the writer
(a) Does a lot of reading
(b) Vainly tries to concentrate on imaginary situations
(c) Keeps a flock of sheep
(d) Counts sheep jumping over a stile
Answer. (b)
17. The author
points out that
(a) Sleep can easily be induced.
(b) The artificial means of inducing sleep are not good.
(c) Artificial ways of inducing sleep are ineffective.
(d) Artificial ways of inducing sleep are expensive.
Answer. (c)
18. The author
uses “impossible” for the character of Lauengro
in the sense of
(a) Funny
(b) Unrealistic
(c) Queer
(d) Imaginary
Answer. (b)
19. According to
the author the character in Lauengro
(a)
Resorts to external aids to get some sleep
(b) Is an admirer of Wordsworth?
(c) Spends sleepless nights reading Wordsworth
(d) Is an avid reader of poetry?
Answer. (d)
20. Borrows’ malice is most probably
directed at
(a) Sleeplessness
(b) The artificial ways of inducing sleep
(c) Wordsworth’s poetry
(d) Poetry in general
Answer. (c)
