Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions.

“Young Leaders Have Fresh Way of Doing Things”

Top companies are hungry to hire leaders in the 30-40 age group. The only problem they are
not easy to find at a time when Indian companies need them the most. However, the
demographic division in the country is such that youth come easy in this country, points out an
VP, HR. the challenge is to groom the finest talent among the youth into Leaders. Young
Leaders are also well placed to empathize with young consumers, understand their needs and
speak and understand their language. Demographics aside, the advantages of a young leader
are plenty. Youth bring of aggression, speed and innovation and when you are in a growth
phase, you need physical and mental energy.
- Eco Times

1. Which paper has reported this article?

2. What is the only problem?

3. What does the demographic division say? What is the challenge?

4. Describe the qualities of a young leader.

“Free Wings”

Once a King ordered two beautiful birds for his garden. When the birds arrived, the King’s
messenger was told to keep the birds in eye-view of the King. The King loved the birds and
watched them every day. After few days the King noticed that one bird always flew here and
there and the other bird never flew. It always sat on a branch. The King got worried and called
the kingdom’s veterinary doctor. The doctor could not find anything wrong with the bird. The
king was more worried. He announced a prize of 20,000/- to the person who can make the bird
fly. Many came but all efforts had no results. One day a poor man came and requested the
King, if he could help. The King allowed him. This poor man went to the garden observed the
bird and the surroundings. He requested for a cutter. The moment the poor man cut the branch
on which the bird was sitting, the bird started flying. The King was happy and awarded the poor
man his 20,000/- gift. The King, however, had a question. He asked why the bird did not go
and sits on another branch? To this, the poor man explained, “Sir, the bird was so conditioned
and comfortable to sit on this branch that it had forgotten, that it could fly. I only took away his
comfort.
The King realized the message and thanked the poor man.
1. What did the King observe?

2. Who is a Veterinary doctor?

3. What did the poor man do?

4. What was the problem according to the poor man?

Thirsty Tiger
Once upon a time, a thirsty tiger went to a lake and started lapping the water. After a
while, a pig joined him. The tiger could no longer enjoy drinking the water because the
pig was dirty and stinking. The tiger moved away from the lake. The young pig thought
that the tiger was scared of it, and started following the tiger. Unable to bear the
stench, the tiger quickened its pace. This made the pig confident enough to challenge
the tiger to a duel. They decided that they would duel in front of all the animals the next
day. When the pig went home and narrated this to his parents, they were wise enough
to understand that the stench and not fear had driven the tiger away. They advised the
little pig to roll around in lots of mud and dirt before reaching the arena.
The pig, terrified by now did exactly that. The tiger and the pig stood facing each other
and were all set to begin fighting. However, as the smell of the pig still unbearable, the
tiger gave up and ran away.

1. What is the meaning of the following:

 Lapping up –

 Stench –

 Quicken is pace –

 Duel –

 Gave up –

2. When the pig told his parents about the duel, what did they ask him to do?
 3. Was the tiger afraid of the pig? Why did he run away?

4. Use the word ‘Challenge’ in a sentence.

5. What is the difference between:

 Bear and bare

 Duel and dual

6. Identify four adjectives from the passage.

Fill in the blanks with the correct option.

1. My uncle is __ M.P from West Bengal.

(a/an/the/none)

2. Please, pass me __ pen that I gave you yesterday.

(a/an/the/none)

3. He will study in __ university of his own choice.

(a/an/the/none)

4. He quickly put the money ______ his left pocket.

(in/into/under/on/none)

5. The bird flew ______ my head just now.

(above/over/up/on)

6. Ravi was sitting ______ Gita and her three friends.

(between/among/on/with/none)

7. The cup and saucer ____ kept on the table.

(is/are/be/none)

8. Gulliver’s Travels ____ my favorite book.

(is/be/are/none)

9. There was a loud knock ____ the door.

(on/at/in/none)
10. What is the time ____ your watch?
(in/at/by/none)

11. My friend is disgusted ____ me.

(to/by/with/none)

12. ____ European entered _____ room and told me ____ English poem.
(a/an/the)

13. Rita is ____ intelligent _______ hardworking.

(not only/but also; either/or; neither/nor)

14. ________ is the best way to solve this puzzle?

(Where/Which/What)

15. We ____ sweaters in winter, but today I ____ one because the north wind is blowing.
(wear/am wearing/wore/wears)

16. He _____ the newspaper, ____ his breakfast and _____office at 10 a.m every morning
but I ________office before him today.
(read/reads/reach/reaches/has/have)