Passage 3

Ratnakar once visited the court of King Shivdas. Though Ratnakar was very proud, it was accepted that he was
a great scholar. His followers claimed that no task on earth was impossible for him, so much power he had acquired
from his studies. The king felt sad that the scholars in his kingdom were no match for Ratnakar.
Bhaskar, the court jester, asked Ratnakar, Sir, if nothing is impossible for you, can you eat a banana and its
shadow? What nonsense do you speak? asked Ratnakar. Who can eat a banana and its shadow? Are you
mad? No, Sir, I can eat a banana and its shadow, said Bhaskar politely. If I succeed, you must touch my feet.
Yes, agreed Ratnakar. It was decided that Bhaskar would perform the act the next morning on the palace terrace.
It was a bright day. The king and his courtiers, Ratnakar and his followers assembled on the palace terrace.
Bhaskar holding a banana in his hand said, Look alternately at me and my shadow. As everyone looked at his
shadow, he began to eat the banana. His shadow looked like eating the bananas shadow. See, I eat the banana
here and its shadow there. The courtiers burst into laughter. Ratnakar did as decided earlier. His followers never
boasted about him after this incident.
21. What did Ratnakar do after Bhaskars successful performance?
(1) He asked his followers not to boast about him
(2) He ate a banana and its shadow
(3) He touched Bhaskars feet
(4) He joined the courtiers in their laughter
(5) None of these
22. The story proves that
(1) Bhaskar defeated Ratnakar
(2) Ratnakar was never proud
(3) Bhaskar was impolite
(4) Ratnakars followers claim was right
(5) there was no match for Ratnakar in the Kings
court
23. Ratnakars followers used to claim that
(1) there was nothing impossible for them to perform
(2) Ratnakar was capable of doing anything
(3) he was very proud and a great scholar too
(4) there was no match for Ratnakar in the Kings court
(5) Bhaskar was able to eat a banana and its shadow
24. Bhaskar asked Ratnakar whether
(1) he (Ratnakar) was capable of eating a banana along
with its skin
(2) his followers claim that Shivdas was a scholar was right
(3) he would touch Bhaskars feet if Bhaskar succeeded in his task
(4) there was a match for him (Ratnakar) in the Kings court
(5) None of these.
25. Which of the following is NOT true in the context of
the passage?
(1) Bhaskar was a jester in the court of Shivdas
(2) Bhaskar could perform the act successfully
(3) Ratnakar was not able to accept Bhaskars challenge
(4) Shivdas knew that Bhaskar was the only match for Ratnakar
(5) The courtiers enjoyed the act of Bhaskars wisdom`
Pick out the word/group of words that is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word given in capitals as used
in the passage.
26. MATCH
(1) Game (2) Competitor
(3) Rival (4) Equal
(5) Stick
27. CLAIMED
(1) Demanded as right (2) Stated emphatically
(3) Caught forcibly (4) Held by neck
(5) Told purposefully
28. SUCCEED
(1) Defeat (2) Pass
(3) Win (4) Victory
(5) Gain
Pick out the word that is most nearly the OPPOSITE in meaning to the word given in capitals as used in the
passage.
29. ASSEMBLED
(1) Dispersed (2) Spread
(3) Disjoint (4) Disappeared
(5) Separated
30. ACCEPTED
(1) Disqualified (2) Disputed
(3) Ridiculed (4) Fought
(5) Agreed
Answers to Passage 3:
21. (3) 22. (1) 23. (2) 24. (3) 25. (4)
26. (4) 27. (2) 28 . (2) 29. (1) 30. (2)