Qmaths Telegram Channel Date : 7th January 2024

THE HINDU PLUS

(Vocab + Comprehension)
A Qmaths initiative to provide
Quality Study Materials.

Contents:
 Reading Comprehension Passage with Exercise
 Vocabulary Exercise
 PQRS and Cloze Test
 Vocabulary Table
 Solution to Exercises
 Twisted Tales (Stories) to learn Vocabs/Phrases

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Article : Autumn of the militants

The ULFA, a pro-talks faction of the militant group, has inked a historic peace
accord with the Union government, a move Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa
Sarma has hailed as momentous. Yet, the path to peace remains elusive, as
another faction adamantly vows to persist in the 'armed struggle.'
In the unlikely setting of a house of entertainment, the Rang Ghar, one of Asia's
oldest amphitheatres with its distinctive inverted boat-shaped roof, has been
more than just a heritage edifice. Erected as a regal perch for Ahom royalty to
spectate cultural displays, it has stood as a beacon of Assamese pride since its
establishment by King Pramatta Singha in 1744 in present-day Sivasagar. This
historical monument has also been a silent testament to peace.
However, peace was probably the farthest thing from the minds of six young men
who convened at the Rang Ghar on April 7, 1979. Their rendezvous led to the
birth of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), with an ambition to forge a
“sovereign socialist Assam” via an armed rebellion. The founding members
included Bhimkanta Buragohain, Rajiv Rajkonwar (also known as Arabinda
Rajkhowa), Golap Baruah (alias Anup Chetia), Samiran Gogoi (alias Pradip
Gogoi), Bhadreshwar Gohain, and Paresh Baruah.
The genesis of their consternation was rooted in the growing storm in Assam
since 1978, spurred by reports of “illegal immigrants” infiltrating the State’s
electoral rolls. The situation reached its crescendo in April 1979 when the
Election Commission unveiled the draft electoral rolls for a by-election in the
Mangaldoi Lok Sabha constituency. The apparent widespread registration of
non-citizens ignited an agitation that burgeoned in June 1979 and culminated
with the signing of the Assam Accord in August 1985.
While entities like the All Assam Students’ Union were at the forefront of the six-
year campaign for the “detection, disenfranchisement, and deportation” of
foreigners, ULFA covertly enlisted individuals fueled by revolutionary fervor.
They were trained for a confrontation to liberate Assam from “Indian
occupational forces.” The group bifurcated into political and military wings, with
Rajkhowa as the chairman and Baruah as the ‘commander-in-chief.’

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Vocabulary (The Hindu Article dated 07.01.2024)

SN Word Meaning Hindi Example Sentence

Greeted or acknowledged स्वागत The new policy was hailed
1 Hailed (verb)
enthusiastically किया as a major step forward.
The court's decision was a
Momentous Of great importance or
2 महत्वपूर्ण momentous occasion in the
(adjective) significance
nation's history.
Elusive Difficult to find, catch, or The elusive bird is rarely
3 दर्
ु भण
(adjective) achieve seen in this region.
In a way that suggests one
Adamantly will not be persuaded to She adamantly refused to
4 दृढ़ता से
(adverb) change a decision, compromise her principles.
opinion, or stance
The ancient edifice stood
5 Edifice (noun) A large, imposing building इमारत tall amidst the city's
skyline.
A light or signal that The lighthouse served as a
6 Beacon (noun) प्रिाश स्तंभ
guides or warns beacon for ships at sea.
Something that serves as
The crowd at the concert
Testament a sign or evidence of a
7 प्रमार् was a testament to the
(noun) specified fact, event, or
band's popularity.
quality
Convened Come or bring together for एित्रित The committee convened to
8
(verb) a meeting or activity किया discuss the new project.

Rendezvous A meeting at an agreed ममर्ने िी They arranged a rendezvous

9
(noun) time and place जगह at the local café.
Feelings of anxiety or The sudden change in plans
Consternation
10 dismay, typically at च त
ं ा caused consternation
(noun)
something unexpected among the team members.
घस
ु पैठ The detective was
Infiltrating Gradually entering or
11 infiltrating the criminal
(verb) becoming a part of िरना organization.
उत्तरोत्तर The music reached a
Crescendo A gradual increase in
12 crescendo in the final act of
(noun) loudness or intensity वद्
ृ चि the play.
अनावरर् The artist unveiled his
Unveiled Revealed; made public for
13 latest sculpture at the
(verb) the first time किया gallery.
तेजी से The small startup
Burgeoned Begin to grow or increase
14 burgeoned into a
(verb) rapidly बढ़ना multinational corporation.
Disenfranchis
The state of being deprived मताचििार The disenfranchisement of
15 of a right, especially the certain groups is a serious
ement (noun)
right to vote से वंच त concern.
The spy covertly gathered
Covertly In a concealed or secretive
16 गप्ु त रूप से information on the enemy's
(adverb) manner
plans.

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Bifurcated Divided into two branches दो भागों में The river bifurcated into
17
(verb) or parts बांटना two separate streams.
Toppers Choice, "Blackbook of English Vocabulary" a must have book for all SSC
Aspirants.

Summary of the Article:

1. Historic Peace Accord: A faction of ULFA signed a peace accord with the Union
government, termed 'historic' by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
2. Continued Struggle by Another Faction: Despite the accord, another faction of
ULFA vowed to continue their armed struggle.
3. ULFA's Formation: ULFA was formed in 1979 at Rang Ghar, a symbol of Assamese
pride, with the aim to establish a sovereign socialist Assam.
4. Reason for Agitation: Agitation in Assam began due to the issue of “illegal
immigrants” being added to the State’s electoral rolls.
5. Anti-Foreigner Agitation: The All Assam Students’ Union led a six-year agitation
for detection, disenfranchisement, and deportation of foreigners.
6. ULFA's Activities: ULFA recruited people for an armed fight against “Indian
occupational forces” and divided into political and military wings.
7. Reign of Terror: ULFA established contacts with NSCN and other militant groups,
setting up camps in Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Bhutan for training and arms.
8. Impact in Assam: ULFA's activities led to significant violence and disruption in
Assam, including the killing of a tea planter in 1990.
9. Government's Response: The Assam government was dismissed, President's Rule
imposed, and military operations initiated against ULFA.
10. Counter-Insurgency and SULFA: Despite arrests of ULFA members, the outfit
continued its activities. A group of surrendered ULFA members became known as
SULFA.
11. Public Support and Talks: ULFA began losing public support, especially after a
school bombing. The government kept the option for talks open.
12. Peace Initiatives and Setbacks: Various peace initiatives, including mediation by
Bhupen Hazarika and the People’s Consultative Group, were attempted but fizzled
out.
13. Leadership Changes and Ceasefire: After several leaders were arrested, a ceasefire
agreement was signed by some ULFA leaders, while others, like Paresh Baruah,
continued the struggle.
14. Recent Developments: The pro-talks ULFA group signed a peace accord in 2023,
while Baruah's faction remains active and opposed to negotiations.
15. Challenges for Lasting Peace: Lasting peace in Assam is seen as challenging unless
all factions of ULFA participate in the peace process.

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Reading Comprehension Exercise

1. What was the primary goal of ULFA when it was formed?

a) To promote Assamese culture

b) To establish a “sovereign socialist Assam” through armed struggle

c) To enlist on the State’s electoral rolls

d) To build heritage structures in Assam

2. Where was ULFA formed, and what is the significance of this location?

a) In a government building, symbolizing political power

b) In a house of entertainment, symbolizing Assamese pride

c) In a rural area, representing the agrarian society

d) In a foreign country, indicating international support

3. What sparked the agitation in Assam in 1979?

a) The signing of the Assam Accord

b) Reports of "illegal immigrants" being enlisted on the State’s electoral

rolls

c) The formation of ULFA

d) A political coup in the State government

4. Who led the political and military wings of ULFA?

a) Rajiv Rajkonwar and Samiran Gogoi

b) Rajiv Rajkonwar and Paresh Baruah

c) Arabinda Rajkhowa and Paresh Baruah

d) Bhimkanta Buragohain and Golap Baruah

5. What was the outcome of the six-year agitation in Assam?

a) The formation of ULFA

b) The construction of Rang Ghar

c) The signing of the Assam Accord

d) The election of a new State government

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6. What is the central theme of the passage?

a) The cultural heritage of Assam

b) The formation and objectives of ULFA

c) The political history of Assam

d) The economic development of Assam

7. Which statement is correct according to the passage?

a) ULFA was formed in 1985

b) The Rang Ghar is a modern amphitheater

c) ULFA's formation was influenced by the issue of “illegal immigrants”

d) The Assam Accord led to the formation of ULFA

8. Which statement is incorrect according to the passage?

a) The pro-talks faction of ULFA signed a peace accord with the Union
government

b) The Rang Ghar is one of Asia’s oldest amphitheatres

c) The agitation in Assam was solely due to economic reasons

d) The Assam Accord was signed in August 1985

9. Find the synonym for 'agitation' as used in the passage.

a) Calmness b) Protest

c) Agreement d) Silence

10. Find the antonym for 'sovereign' as used in the passage.

a) Dependent b) Autonomous

c) Independent d) Free

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Cloze Test
Bezalel Smotrich is bearded, blue-eyed and in (1) form even now. Last
week, Mr. Smotrich, who is currently the Finance Minister in Benjamin
Netanyahu’s Cabinet, “encouraged” Palestinians to leave Gaza, which
has been under Israeli attack since October 7, and in the same breath,
called his fellow settler Israelis to “return” to the (2). A year before, he
had said there was no such thing as (3) people.
An ultra-nationalist activist and leader of the far-right Religious Zionist
Party, he is often described as the “overlord” of the (4). “I may also be a
far-right person, homophobe, racist, fascist, but my word is my (5),” he
said in an interview last year. A list of words and bonds, in no particular
order: Every Arab is a “terrorist”; homosexuality is akin to “bestiality”;
the Bible, not capitalism, holds answers to Israel’s prosperity.

Questions:

1. a) belligerent b) peaceful
c) calm d) serene
2. a) city b) enclave
c) beach d) capital
3. a) Palestinian b) Israeli
c) European d) Asian
4. a) South Bank b) North Bank
c) East Bank d) West Bank
5. a) bond b) loss
c) gain d) failure

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Para-jumble Exercise:
Questions 1-3: Arrange the following parts of the paragraph in the
correct order.
Question 1:
P) Regulatory bodies encourage colleges to go in for academic autonomy
Q) but the degrees/diplomas that are conferred are on a par with all
others by the affiliating university.
R) and certify their students based on their own examinations,
S) Autonomy regulations give little oversight authority for the affiliating
university on the autonomous college examination system.
A) PQRS B) PRQS
C) PSRQ D) PRSQ
Question 2:
P) Continuous assessment through the course leaves the entire
assessment process in the hands of the teacher.
Q) proper documentation and real time oversight with participative
process of students’ assessment of teachers should make it better.
R) Though this system is often riddled with subjective and lenient
assessment,
S) Summative assessment and evaluation should also be made
transparent, with checks and balances.
A) PQRS B) PRQS
C) PSRQ D) SPRQ
Question 3:
P) In a decentralised education system, confidentiality and
standardisation of the examination system matter little,
Q) but ensuring a minimum standard is essential.
R) Transparency and proper oversight take lead roles in the examination
systems to ensure this.
S) Steps to take
A) PQRS B) PRQS
C) PSRQ D) SRPQ

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Questions 4-5: Arrange the following parts of the sentence in the

correct order.
Question 4:
P) but the problem with larger systems
Q) that make a mockery of uniformity and confidentiality.
R) is that they are prone to ‘malfunctioning’
S) and facilitate malpractices
A) PQRS B) PRSQ
C) PRQS D) PSRQ
Question 5:
P) If minimum standards of learning outcomes are specified,
Q) Academics in every branch of knowledge write on curriculum design,
pedagogy and assessment systems.
R) there are numerous ways to achieve them.
S) Research in teaching of subjects in both schools and colleges is
vibrant.
A) PQRS B) PRQS
C) PSRQ D) SPRQ

Solutions/Hints for Reading Comprehension Exercise:

1. Correct Answer: b) To establish a “sovereign socialist Assam” through
armed struggle.
Explanation: The primary goal of ULFA was to establish a “sovereign
socialist Assam,” making option b correct.
2. Correct Answer: b) In a house of entertainment, symbolizing Assamese
pride.
Explanation: ULFA was formed in Rang Ghar, a house of entertainment,
which is a symbol of Assamese pride, making option b correct.
3. Correct Answer: b) Reports of "illegal immigrants" being enlisted on the
State’s electoral rolls.

Explanation: The agitation in Assam in 1979 was sparked by reports of

"illegal immigrants" being enlisted on electoral rolls, making option b
correct.

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4. Correct Answer: c) Arabinda Rajkhowa and Paresh Baruah.

Explanation: Arabinda Rajkhowa headed the political wing, and Paresh

Baruah was the ‘commander-in-chief’ of the military wing, making option c
correct.
5. Correct Answer: c) The signing of the Assam Accord.
Explanation: The six-year agitation in Assam ended with the signing of
the Assam Accord, making option c correct.
6. Correct Answer: b) The formation and objectives of ULFA.

Explanation: The passage primarily discusses the formation and

objectives of ULFA, making option b the central theme.
7. Correct Answer: c) ULFA's formation was influenced by the issue of
“illegal immigrants”.

Explanation: ULFA's formation was indeed influenced by the issue of

“illegal immigrants,” making option c correct.
8. Correct Answer: c) The agitation in Assam was solely due to economic
reasons.

Explanation: The passage does not state that the agitation was solely
due to economic reasons, making option c incorrect.
9. Correct Answer: b) Protest.
Explanation:

 'Agitation' means a state of nervous excitement or anxiety,

making 'protest' its synonym.
 'Calmness', 'agreement', and 'silence' are antonyms or unrelated
to 'agitation'.
10. Correct Answer: a) Dependent.
Explanation:
 'Sovereign' means possessing supreme or ultimate power, so
'dependent' is its antonym.
 'Autonomous', 'independent', and 'free' are synonyms or related
in meaning to 'sovereign'.

Solutions/Hints for Cloze Test Exercise:

1. Correct Answer: a) belligerent.
Explanation: 'Bellicose' means demonstrating aggression and willingness
to fight, which is synonymous with 'belligerent'. The other options do not
align with the context of aggression.
2. Correct Answer: b) enclave.

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Explanation: The term 'enclave' is used to describe a territory (or a part of

one) that is entirely surrounded by the territory of another state. It fits the
context of Gaza in the sentence. The other options do not appropriately
describe Gaza.
3. Correct Answer: a) Palestinian.
Explanation: The paragraph discusses Mr. Smotrich's views on
Palestinians, making 'Palestinian' the correct answer. The other options do
not fit the context of the sentence.
4. Correct Answer: d) West Bank.
Explanation: The West Bank is a significant geographical area in the
context of Israeli and Palestinian relations. The other options do not
accurately represent the location referred to in the passage.
5. Correct Answer: a) bond.
Explanation: The phrase 'my word is my bond' means that one keeps
their promises. The sentence structure and context suggest that 'bond' is
the correct answer, as it is a common phrase. The other options do not fit in
this phrase.
.
Solutions/Hints for Para-Jumble Exercise:
1. Correct Answer: b) PRQS.

Explanation: The correct order starts with Mr. Smotrich's birth (P), his
ancestry (R), the background of his grandmothers (Q), followed by his father's
leadership (S).
2. Correct Answer: a) PQRS.

Explanation: The sequence begins with Mr. Smotrich's upbringing in Beit

El (P), the description of the settlement (Q), its status within the community (R),
and the influence on his politics (S).
3. Correct Answer: c) QRSP.
Explanation: The logical order starts with his initial attempt for the
Knesset (Q), followed by his election (R), rebranding of his party (P), and his
run in the 2022 elections (S).
4. Correct Answer: c) SPRQ.

Explanation: The correct sentence order is his schooling in yeshiva (S),

service in the IDF (P), obtaining a law degree (Q), and the college he attended
(R).
5. Correct Answer: c) RSPQ.
Explanation: The logical order is the 2022 elections (R), the party he ran
with (S), winning seats (P), and becoming part of the coalition (Q).

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Learn Vocabulary and Idioms/Phrases through Twisted Funny Short Stories.

In the heart of the mountains, Gabbar, a simpleton, lived a secluded life with
his cult. Their abode, an edifice (a large, imposing building) nestled in the forest,
was a beacon (a guiding or warning signal) of tranquility, far from the nastiful
(unsavory or distasteful) hustle of cities. Gabbar’s laughter echoed across the
hills, a testament (proof or evidence) to their simple joys.
Their group, adamantly (firmly or stubbornly) avoiding modern vices,
sustained themselves by begging in nearby villages. However, their peace was
disrupted by a greedy policeman, Thakur, who demanded haftah (regular
payment, especially for protection) from Gabbar. Gabbar humbly denied,
proclaiming their austere (simple and unadorned) life. When Thakur tried to
humiliate (embarrass or shame someone publicly) Gabbar in front of his
followers, it sparked a conflict, ending with Thakur’s graceless (lacking grace)
defeat.
Seeking revenge, Thakur hired two notorious goons, Jay and Veeru, to
eliminate Gabbar. Unaware of the looming threat, Gabbar convened (gathered
or assembled) a celebration for his cult, inviting a famous dancer, Basanti, to
perform. The event, intended as a joyous rendezvous (a meeting at an agreed
time and place), soon turned sour.
Veeru, burning with jealousy and harboring nefarious (wicked or criminal)
intentions towards Basanti, disrupted the party. Despite Veeru’s taunts,
Basanti delivered her performance, her dance reaching a crescendo (a gradual
increase in loudness or intensity) of happiness. Veeru’s consternation (feelings
of anxiety or dismay) grew, leading him to attempt to kidnap Basanti.
A fierce battle ensued as Gabbar defended Basanti against Veeru and Jay.
Their fight bifurcated (divided into two branches or parts) the peaceful night,
with the goons infiltrating (entering or gaining access surreptitiously) Gabbar's
sanctuary. In a climactic (forming an exciting or dramatic high point)
showdown, Thakur joined, employing covert (hidden or secret) tactics with his
nail-studded shoes, overpowering Gabbar.
In the end, Gabbar, the symbol of simple joy and freedom, was overthrown.
Basanti, who had always admired Gabbar’s genuineness, was left with Veeru,
her heart yearning for the elusive (difficult to find, catch, or achieve) dream of
a peaceful life with Gabbar. The mountains, once a retreat of laughter and
simplicity, now whispered tales of a momentous (of great importance or
significance) struggle and the fall of an innocent man.

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