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HOLIDAY HOME WORK- SET-3

READING SECTION

UNSEEN PASSAGE- PRACTICE SET -3

I. Read the passage given below.

1 The conservation work on the many monuments and sites in the region of Humayun's Tomb has been
going on for some time. There have been various phases in this work. It started with a massive
renovation of Humayun's Tomb and moved to the nearby areas of Nizammudin Basti. This time, it is the
16th-century site of Nila Gumbad, near the Humayun's Tomb Complex that is under consideration. For
the people living in the area, these monuments hold special place.

2 To show their deep-seated involvement in the renovation of their area, the tiles that are being used for
renovating the dome of the monument are being fashioned by local youths who have been trained by
craftsmen who have specially come for this purpose from Uzbekistan. So far, this joint effort under
Uzbek 'ustads' has yielded 15,000 tiles. This is not enough because almost 10 per cent of the tiles are
missing from the monument and the current rate of production is not fast enough to meet this demand.
Thus the tile manufacturing process has been sped up to meet the requirement.

3 The Nila Gumbad monument is one of the key components in the development plans drawn up. Its
importance lies in the fact that historically and architecturally, it encompasses the Persian influence
on Mughal architecture, especially through its unique tile work. The Chief Engineer of the tile-making
project, Rajpal Singh, is happy with the youth as he says that the Uzbek masters have taught youths
from the Basti to make tiles identical to the ones used in the Mughal period.

4 The complex nature of the restoration in hand has led to the involvement of several agencies who
initiated the restoration work.

5 The Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), which first renovated Humayun's Tomb, subsequently took
up the renovation of the Nila Gumbad as part of the Humayun's Tomb Complex renovation.

6 The work at the site which was first initiated as part of the Humayun's Tomb Complex was taken up a
few months ago by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The protected monuments for renovation come
under the aegis of the Archaeological Survey of India. Besides the Aga Khan Trust, there is a
multidisciplinary team co-funding the restoration work alongside. Some of the funds are coming from
the Dorabji Tata Trust as well.

7 Another player in the restoration process is the Northern Railways with whom the conservators have
had talks to resolve the issues. The railways have not permitted the ongoing plans for implementation of
a landscaping project that was agreed to in 2011. The railway authorities were also required to demolish
a room which stands in the way of integrating the complex.
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8 The millions of visitors who come to Humayun's Tomb annually are thus denied the chance to
envision the entire complex, due to these issues. Nevertheless, the conservation plans are on in full
swing and are based on exhaustive documentation and an enhanced understanding of the structure's
potential to throw light on Mughal architecture in the early years and much before it had matured into
the magnificent edifices of the later Mughal era.

9 The Nila Gumbad had remained in a state of neglect for some time. In 2008, the Archaeological
Survey of India had uncovered an arcaded platform that stretches up to the Nila Gumbad and that
established that the Nila Gumbad complex was once part of the Humayun's Tomb Complex.

10 What few people realise is the fact that the Nila Gumbad is among the earliest buildings in Delhi,
built by the Mughals. It had sandstone 'jaalis' which were subsequently removed in the 20th century and
which will now see a comeback with the current restoration.

11 Apart from restoring what was once part of the monument, conservators will also undertake the
massive task of removing those aspects of the monument that were added in the current times and which
have defaced the fair face of this precious structure. The major cement plastering was done on the
interior and exterior of this monument, without giving a thought to its original design and architecture.
These surfaces are now being carefully removed bit by bit, so as not to damage the surface in the
process. Once removed, these surfaces will once again be restored to their pristine glory by being
plastered with traditional lime plaster, so that the restored monument gets back the feel and flavour of its
original importance.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(a) Choose the most appropriate statement to complete the sentence.
The conservation work on the many monuments around the site of Humayun's Tomb is currently concentrated
on __________________________________
(i) the 16th century site of Nila Gumbad near the Humayun's Tomb complex
(ii) in the 16th century site of Nila Gumbad beyond the Humayun's Tomb complex
(iii) the massive renovation of Humayun's Tomb
(iv) in the nearby areas of Nizammudin Basti

(b) How are the people in the area showing their deep-seated commitment to the renovation?

(c) List two reasons behind the conservation of the Nila Gumbad as regards its influence on the Mughal
architecture.
(d) Select the antonym for the word 'initiated' form Para 4 of the text.
(i) finessed (ii) fine-tuned (iii) finished (iv) furnished
(e) Based on your understanding of the text which agencies are funding the restoration project?
(f) With which statement given below would the readers of the passage agree?
(i) The railways have permitted a plan for the landscaping of the project.
(ii) The railways have permitted a plan for the ongoing landscaping of the project.
(iii) The railways have fulfilled the plan they had agreed to in 2011.
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(iv) The Northern Railway is in the process of renovating the project.

(g) Give one reason why the renovation of the Nila Gumbad has been undertaken

(h) Choose the most appropriate option to complete the given sentence.

The arcaded platform up to the Nila Gumbad will _

(i) prove it was part of the Moghul Empire

(ii) it was once part of the Humayun's Tomb complex
(iii) it was not a part of the Humayun's tomb complex
(iv) it has no links with either Humayun or other Moghuls

(i) Mention how the current cement plastering will be removed and the place given back its ancient glory .

(j) Which of the following is an apt title for the passage?

(i) The Glorious Days of Humayun

(ii) Bringing Back the Gol Gumbad to its Tile Work
(iii) A Multi-pronged Restoration Project
(iv) Restoring the Nila Gumbad Complex to its former Glory

WRITING SECTION
NOTICE WRITING:
Example
Q.1 As Principal of Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kankarbagh, draft notice in not more than 50 words informing
students of the change in school timings with effect from the 1st of October. State valid reasons for the
change.

Kendriya Vidyalaya, Kankarbagh

NOTICE

22nd September, 20xx

Change in School Timings

All students are hereby informed about a change in school timings from 1st October, 20xx.
The school will now start at 9 a.m. & end at 3 p.m. In the past few years, it has been seen
that winters are rather severe and it becomes quite difficult to start early due to the extreme
cold weather and the dense fog. So these new timings will be followed till further notice.

Principal
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Practice set-1

Q.1. Write a notice to inform students of classes 10-12 about a theatre workshop which your school is
planning to organise. You are Amar/Amrita, Head Boy/ Girl of Modern Eng. Academy, Kolkata . Invent
all the necessary details. Word Limit (50 words).