PRACTICE SHEET

Subject: English Topic: Unseen Comprehension 2 Grade: IX

Read the passage given below.

1 One of the major reasons why individuals become vulnerable to disease and
stress at an early age is the pressure they inflict on themselves in an effort to
fulfill their high ambitions or misplaced priorities.
2 We exist today in a competitive world, compelled to set high standards in needs
and ambitions for ourselves. While we should strive to be productive and
motivated, it is essential that we balance our output with our necessary wants,
and not unrealistic targets for ourselves. For in doing so, in the long term, we
may create physical and mental problems that would prevent us from enjoying
the benefits of our aspirations.
3 It is fundamentally necessary for our holistic development to re-appraise our
aspirations and pursue only firm priorities. Such priorities include firm time
allocations for exercise, leisure, family, spiritual inquiry, reading, etc. In
synergizing these activities along with our work objectives, we will definitely be
more focused and productive. More importantly, we will contribute to our
holistic health.
4 The pressure of living in a contemporary urban environment, linked to our
various work commitments, sometimes leads to a lifestyle, wherein we flow
along at a very frantic pace. Even housewives in large metros have very busy
routines and very little time to nurture themselves. In adopting several holistic
techniques to keep our minds, body and soul in balance, we should include the
taking short holidays every few months. Such sojourns give us the very vital
opportunity of recharging our energies and taking a break from the continuous
pressure of our urban lifestyle, wherein, even just coping with the traffic, is
enough to send our blood pressure shooting.
5 We must always take the initiative of driving out to the countryside for a few
days to meditate and stay calm. In such situations, a natural healing of the body
takes place. Additionally, just breathing air, which has high oxygen content,
every few months, does wonders for our holistic health, and decongests many
of the blocks in our 'Chakras'.
Answer the following questions on the basis of the passage you have read.
a. What is one of the main reasons of tension and diseases in individuals?
i. pressure to fulfill their mission
ii. pressure to lead a balanced lifestyle
iii. pressure of to perform better than their competitors
iv. pressure to fulfill their high ambitions
b. What should we do to be productive and motivated?
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i. set unrealistic targets for ourselves

ii. enjoy the benefits of our aspirations
iii. balance our output with necessary wants
iv. fulfill our high ambitions
c. In the above passage, what are ‘firm priorities’ according to the writer?
i. exercise, reading and spiritual inquiry
ii. exercise, family and leisure
iii. exercise, reading, leisure, family and spiritual inquiry
iv. leisure and spiritual inquiry
d. Give the synonymn of the word ‘vulnerable’.
i. secured
ii. susceptible
iii. guarded
iv. protected
e. How can one contribute to holistic health?
i. By synergising activities with one’s objections.
ii. By synergising actions with one’s work objectives
iii. By synergising activities with one’s work objectives
iv. By synergising actions with one’s workplaces.
f. Give the meaning of the word ‘nurture’.
i. worry about
ii. to take care
iii. neglect
iv. starve
g. Give the antonym of the word ‘frantic’.
i. composed
ii. distracted
iii. distraught
iv. distressed
h. According to the writer, how does natural healing of the body takes place?
i. By going for a vacation to an exotic location.
ii. By spending time in meditation by the countryside.
iii. By spending a few days with your family.
iv. By spending a few days with your friends and colleagues.
i. What happens when we set unrealistic targets?
i. It creates financial problems.
ii. It creates physical and mental problems.
iii. It creates emptiness and boredom.
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iv. It creates social problems.

j. Which of the following statement is TRUE?
i. We must set unrealistic targets for ourselves.
ii. We should avoid taking short holidays every few months.
iii. We must breathe air with high content of oxygen to decongest many blocks
in our ‘Chakras’.
iv. We must fulfill our work commitments without taking breaks.
k. Such sojourns give us the very vital opportunity of recharging our energies.
Choose the word which means the same as ‘brief visits’.
i. vital
ii. opportunity
iii. energies
iv. sojourns
l. According to the writer, what is necessary for our holistic development?
i. strive to achieve unrealistic goals
ii. assess our aspirations and pursue only firm priorities
iii. enjoy the benefits of our aspirations
iv. fulfill our misplaced priorities

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