English Paper Style

[ Section – A Reading ] [26-Marks]

1. Read the Passage given below :- [10]

1. Read the Passage given below :- [08]

2. Read the Passage given below :- [08]

[Section :- B -Grammar] [07- marks]

4. Choose the correct option. [04-marks]

5. Choose the correct option. [03- marks]

[Section :- B - Writing Skills] [16- marks]

6. Advertisement [03]
7. Poster [03]
8. Speech [05]
9. Debate [05]

[Section : C – Literature] [31 – marks]

10. Read the given extracts carefully and answer the following questions. [Do any one] [03]
11. Read the given extracts carefully and answer the following questions. [Do any one] [03]
12. Read the given extracts carefully and answer the following questions. [Do any one] [04]
13. Answer any two of the following questions in 40-50 words. [3x2=6]

14. Answer any one of the following questions in 40-50 words. [3x1=3]
15. Answer any one of the following questions in 120-150 words. [1x6=6]

16. Answer any one of the following questions in 120-150 words. [1x6=6]

Passage : 1

1. The Mastermind quiz is billed as a “battle of minds’. This battle is fought in two halves. In the
first, each of four participants faces a barrage of questions, for two minutes, on any topic of his or
her choice. In the second round, the questions are on general knowledge. There are two points for
each correct answer and zero for wrong answers and passes. In the event of a tie, the person who
has passed fewer questions wins.
2. Questions can be bizarre, but they are answered none the less. “It absolutely amazes you that these
guys know so much. In KBC, it used to be, that this guy knows so little,” says Basu after the
show. Siddhartha Basu was the director of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC).
3. This year’s Mastermind final was won by Ramanand Janardhana, a 22 year-old software engineer
from Pune. Janardhana had Agatha Christie’s ‘Tommy and Tupence’ novels as his specialist topic.
He even knew that Tommy used asofoetida to create a stink in his room.
4. There are, of course, all sorts of quizzers. The diary-toting, Manorama yearbook, wielding variety
will typically prepare for a contest by ‘studying’. He knows that the best questions, the ones that
get the ‘wah-wahs’, are always repeated. He is a solid quizzer, because he knows the obvious.
5. There is the other kind, like Janardhana, who claim they do nothing extra to prepare for quizzes.
They read the papers and magazines, watch TV, and become quizzers because they enjoy the test
of recall.
6. It was a test the nation took when KBC fever was at its height. But long before KBC, there were
quiz societies across the country, in places from Guwahati to Gandhinagar. Kolkata was the hub
of the game; quizzing in India began here in 1967. Even now, the majority of quizzers are from
Kolkata. Of the four 2002 Mastermind finalists, two were from that city.
7. Quizzing is big in school and college festivals. It’s the ‘literary’ highlight of all fests. There are
even professional quizzers, who, like mercenaries, play for money and the thrill of the game. They
represent various organisations at different times.
8. Most quizzers grow out of active quizzing after college. Some, the really hardcore devotees of the
game, keep at it. “I don’t get tired of quizzing,” says Pinaki Prasad Roy, a Mastermind finalist. “I
get excited.” Roy is a 46-year old finance professional from Kolkata, and has been a quizzer for
three decades.
9. Curiosity is the most essential quality for a quizzer. A fantastic memory and instant recall help.
And for Mastermind at least, the choice of specialist subject is critical. In this year’s event,
Janardhana took an unassailable lead in the specialist round itself.

1. The Mastermind quiz is called a ‘battle of minds’ because……………………….

(a) it is a duel of wits (b) the participants are the most intelligent persons
(c) the participants face a shower of questions (d) the mind is on the anvil
2. The participants in the quiz seem ‘masterminds’ because……………………….
(a) they seem to know so little (b) they have very polished manner
(c) they show lot of self confidence (d) they seem to know so much
3. Ramanand Janardhana won as……………………….
(a) he had mastery over the specialist topic
(b) he had gone through the quiz columns in magazines
(c) he had chinks in his memory/recall
(d) he knew all the often repeated questions asked by quizmasters
4. The studious quizzers are called ‘solid’ quizzers because……………………….
(a) they prepare expected questions (b) they know the obvious
(c) they bank on general awareness (d) they enjoy the test of recall
5. The quality most essential for a quizzer is……………………….
(a) love of learning (b) mathematical accuracy
(c) curiosity to know (d) comprehensive learning
6. The word ‘mercenaries’ in para 7 means.………………………
(a) those who seek mercy (b) those who work on machines
(c) those who are lively and quick (d) those who fight for money

7. Why did Ramanand Janardhana win mastermind final?

8. Who are called solid quizzers? Why?
9. Which is the most essential quality of a quizzer?
10. How is Kolkata associated with quizzing game?
11. Find the words from the passage which are similar in meaning to these words.
 (a) Those who fight for money (para 7)
(b) Enthusiasts (para 8)

Answers :

1. (c) the participants face a shower of questions

2. (d) they seem to know so much .
3. (a) he had mastery over the specialist topic
4. (b) they know the obvious
5. (c) curiosity to know
6. (d) those who fight for money
7. He had mastery over the specialist topic which blessed him with victory.
8. The studious quizzers are called solid quizzers they know the obvious.
9. The quizzer should have curiosity to know.
10. Quizzing in India began in Kolkata in 1967. Even now the majority of the quizzers are from
Kolkata.
(a) Mercenaries
(b) Devotees

Passage : 2

Floods are not new to India and this sub-continent, but in recent years the problem has received
much greater attention perhaps largely because it has led to much greater damage than in the past.
Even though information on the impending occurrence of floods is now more accurate and
certainly more timely, often there is very little time or support infrastructure in place by which
damage can be minimized. This is particularly true in the case of flash floods resulting from
sudden and excessively heavy rain.

1. In the case of India flooding is very much a function of the seasonal nature of our rainfall. The
monsoons are spread over a short period during the year and often bring a concentrated volume of
rain, which cannot be absorbed by the earth and finds outlet only in the form of streams that join
up with our major river systems. But, flooding is not confined only to the main rivers of the
country, often smaller tributaries and streams can cause heavy damage as well. Once these streams
spill over their banks they could cause excessive harm, mainly because those living near the banks
of these streams particularly in mountain areas do not have easy recourse to moving away quickly.
2. One major factor that could lead to a higher severity of flooding in the future is the danger of
climate change. While the evidence of the nature of impacts resulting from climate change on
precipitation and flooding at the regional level is not entirely clear, it could happen that the Indian
subcontinent witnesses and suffers the effects of a significantly changed pattern of monsoons. One
set of scientists has estimated that the monsoons could be shorter in duration, but far more
intensive. In other words, much greater precipitation would take place in a much shorter period of
time, thereby increasing the danger of floods. Climate change is the result of human actions
through the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, of which carbon
dioxide is the most prominent.
3. At the local level also human actions have heightened the danger of flood through the cutting of
trees in the mountains as well as in the plains. In the case of India, the ecological damage through
deforestation of the Himalayas has led to large-scale erosion of the mountain slopes and high
 levels of siltation. This leads to deposition of silt on the riverbeds in the plains and hence spill
over of water whenever the volume in the river reaches a certain level. With siltation on the river
beds, flooding occurs even at very shallow water levels. The vulnerability of the population has
increased substantially because of population pressures, symbolized, for instance, by the stubborn
and perhaps helpless settling of slum dwellers on the banks of the river Yamuna in Delhi, which is
merely a trickle most of the year, but bursting its banks during the monsoons as has been the case
this year.

4. Flood forecasting is critical to minimizing the damage from floods. It is for this reason that the
Central Water Commission has set up a network of forecasting stations, which cover the most
important flood prone inter state rivers in the country. These stations produce forecasts that are
used to alert the public and to mobilize various official agencies so that they take both preventive
as well as relief measures whenever required. However, even in cases where forecasts have been
timely and generally accurate, people have often been reluctant to move away, because in most
cases they lack the means and physical options for moving away from a danger zone to one that is
relatively safe. In the case of flash floods, forecasts are difficult to make, and often the time
available for relief is very short.

1. The problem of floods has been considered important recently because…………………..

(a) there are flash floods (b) floods are unpredictable
(c) the rivers change their courses (d) these cause much greater damage
2. The danger of floods is not minimised as…………………..
(a) flood forecasting is inaccurate (b) there is little time available for safety measures
(c) people are scared and act in panic (d) support infrastructure is poor
3. India suffers from floods during monsoons because…………………..
(a) it rains very heavily and continually (b) the embankments of the rivers are weak
(c) the streams and rivers spill over (d) the streams are full of silt
4. Climate change is the direct result of…………………..
(a) increased concentration of green house gases (b) explosion of nuclear devices
(c) fire in oil wells in the gulf region (d) significantly changed pattern of monsoons
5. The worst hit people are slum dwellers because…………………..
(a) they are stubborn and helpless (b) they do not have means to move away quickly
(c) they have concentrated in large numbers (d) they have settled on the banks of the rivers
6. The word ‘precipitation’ in para 3 means…………………..
(a) forming a precipitate (b) separation of solid material from liquid
(c) falling of rain in an area (d) the quality of being exact or accurate

7. Why does India suffer from floods during monsoons?

8. What is the result of greenhouse gases?
9. Who are the worst hit people?
10. Which human action have heightened the danger of flood?
11. Write the words from passage which are similar in meaning.
(a) Fall of rain in an area (para 3)
(b) Harshness (para 3)

Answers

1. (d) these cause much greater damage

2. (b) there is little time available for safety measures
3. (c) the streams and rivers spill over
4. (a) increased concentration of green house gases
5. (d) they have settled on the banks of the rivers
6. (c) falling of rain in an area
7. During monsoon the streams and rivers spill over and it results in flood.
8. Climate change is the direct result of increased concentration of greenhouse gases.
9. Slum dwellers are the worst hit people as they have settled on the banks of the rivers.
10. Cutting of trees in the mountains as well as in the plains have heightened the danger of flood.
11. (a) Precipitation
(b) Severity

Passage : 3

The revolution in information technology (IT), far from helping India to leapfrog to a post-
industrial society, threatens to rupture the social fabric by enriching a few at the cost of many.

1. In a very short time and quite unexpectedly, India has risen to considerable eminence in the world
of information technology. This year, software products are expected to account for $ 5.7 billion
in exports and will account for a quarter of the growth in the economy, which is expected to grow
nearly seven per cent. Within eight years, predicts a recent study by McKinsey & Co. and the
National Association of Software & Service Companies (Nasscom), India’s annual IT exports
could hit $ 50 billion about 33 per cent of global software exports. Such a surge is expected to
generate 2.2 million jobs—and push our growth rate near the double digits that many East Asian
Tigers enjoyed before the 1997 crash.
2. For the rapidly growing middle class, which was desperate to make its presence felt but remained
mired in the great Indian outback of the global economy and regretfully watched the industrial
revolution pass it by, this is the moment they have been waiting for. When countries like Japan
and Germany, the objects of Indian admiration, should come knocking on our doors to solicit our
talent to invigorate their industry, it is indeed redemption of sorts. And IT is the cause of it all.
3. The big question is, will IT do an encore for India as a nation, and not just for a wafer thin
percentage of IT-literate Indians, mostly the poster boys of the IITs?
4. IT has, as yet, failed to touch the lives of the average citizen and India is nowhere close to being a
knowledge economy or society. As per the International Data Corporation (IDC), in a survey of
55 countries, India ranks 54th on its Information Society Index.
5. The fact is, it is a straightforward reflection of the deep inequality of our education system which
breeds a few ‘geniuses’ at the cost of the entire nation. A study by former director of the National
Centre for Software Technology, R. Narasimhan, points out that nowhere is the digital divide
more glaring than in IT education. The report warns that India’s ‘obsession’ with the software
industry and its exports orientation is leading to the churning out of unemployable students on one
hand and bright whiz-kids on the other. While the latter are lured away by overseas employers, the
former remain unemployable Narasimhan cautions against the ‘hype’ associated with the
phenomenal growth of India’s software industry defying rational explanations and built up into a
‘mystique of sort’ which breeds false hopes. .
6. India’s software industry is a poor employment generator. In the mid-Nineties, some 20,000
people were actively employed in software export services. In contrast, there were three million
registered unemployed graduates in the Nineties. While the ‘Narasimhan study doesn’t mention
 number of hobs lost due to computerisation, one could comfortably add a million to the number.

1. The revolution in IT threatens to break apart the social fabric

because…………………………
(a) the stocks of software companies have risen at BSE
(b) it has helped India to rise beyond the industrial society
(c) it is enriching a few at the cost of many
(d) it has created a gulf between the rural and urban sector
2. Growth in export of Indian software products and national economy have been achieved
because of…………………………
(a) global recession (b) liberalised economy
(c) public private cooperation (d) eminence of Information Technology
3. It is a time of pride for the middle classes in India because…………………………
(a) developed industrial nations will require Indian software professionals to invigorate their
industry
(b) they are desperate to make their presence felt
(c) they have remained stuck in the mud of global economy
(d) they have regretfully watched the industrial revolution pass by them
4. The digital divide is clearly visible in IT revolution because…………………………
(a) it has improved a lot of average Indian citizen
(b) it has benefitted only the products of IITs or some IT-literates
(c) it has made India a knowledge economy or society
(d) non-IT trained students run the IT institutes
5. Narasimhan’s report cautions against ‘hype’ around IT software industry
because…………………………
(a) it is rational (b) it breeds false hopes
(c) all look for foreign assignments (d) it attracts even the dullards
6. The word ‘redemption’ in para 3 means…………………………
(a) recoupment (b) recumbent (c) recovery (d) redeeming

7. Why is the digital divide clearly visible in IT revolution?

8. Why is IT not beneficial for average Indians?
9. What does Narasimhan’s report highlight on IT software industry?
10. How is it lucrative for the middle classes in India?
11. Find the words from the passage which are similar in meaning.
(a) Recovery (para 3)
(b) Very easily seen (para 6)

Answers :

1. (c) it is enriching a few at the cost of many

2. (d) eminence of Information Technology
3. (a) developed industrial nations will require Indian software professionals to invigorate their
industry
4. (b) it has benefitted only the products of IITs or some IT-literates
5. (b) it breeds false hopes
6. (c) recovery
7. It has benefitted only the products of IITs or some IT-literates.
8. It has yet failed to touch the lives of the average citizen and India is nowhere close to bring
knowledge economy or society.
9. Narasimhan’s report highlights it’s failure in India as it breeds false hope to invigorate their
industry.
10. Indian software professionals are on high demand in developed Industrial nations.
11. (a) Redemption
(b) Glaring

Passage : 4

1. “Cured yesterday of my disease, I died last night of my physician,” says Matthew Prior, a
celebrated pharmacologist, while talking about the deleterious effects of drugs in his book, “The
Remedy Worse Than the Disease”. There is no dearth of patients dying of misguided treatment.
2. disorder bound to disappear in a short duration.
3. In this era of drugs we must familiarise ourselves with the term “Iatrogenic disease (physician
caused ailment)”. When a physician administers medicines without a complete understanding of
the patient’s condition, drugs play havoc. A person may become the victim of a worse disease or
even lose his life.
4. With Analgin, for instance, special precautions should be taken in case of pregnancy, bronchial
asthma, renal and hepatitic dysfunctions and blood-related disorders. It has been banned in several
countries, including the USA and Sweden, because of its unexpected and negative effects that lead
one even to death through an anaphylactic shock. An anaphylactic shock is a process that leads to
a severe fall in the blood pressure, bronchoconstriction, the swelling of blood and lymph vessels
and sometimes death because of the loss of fluid in these vessels. Anaphylaxis usually occurs
suddenly, in minutes after the administration of a drug. The well-known drug, penicillin, and
many other drugs, may cause anaphylaxis.
5. The term “side-effects” is a part of an ailing layman’s vocabulary but adverse drug reactions are
known only to a more aware and literate patient.
6. Ciprofloxacin, when given for an ear-infection, may cause vertigo and amoxycillin, while fighting
a throat infection, may hurt the stomach. Similarly, while chemotherapy given for cancer may lead
to indigestion and hair fall, steroids administered continuously may lead to obesity and diabetes.
7. Drugs are meant to eliminate disease. In the quest for avoiding the misery of sickness, man has
invented medicines that may themselves cause diseases. The illness caused by a drug may be
short-term or long-term. Side effects are short-term and predictable. The unpredictable and
bizarre reactions are termed as adverse reactions. A variety of drugs cure many ills but are also
known to cause irregular heart beat and even sudden death.
8. A strong sense of responsibility on the physician’s part and an attitude of extreme caution on the
patient’s part can substantially help in covering at least some of the risks of medicines, if not all.
There are many factors that help a doctor in his choice and use of the drug. The medical history of
a patient, age, sex, personality, environment and education contribute in deciding the course of
treatment. The very old and the very young are likely to suffer as their bodies are less tolerant.
Older children may sometimes be more tolerant than the adults. The elderly tend to respond better
to standard drug dosage. But the lower body size, slow blood flow to vital organs, decreasing
metabolic capacity and tendency to multiple physical problems contribute to adverse reactions.
 1. An “Iatrogenic disease” is an ailment caused by……………………………
(a) infection in the hospital ward (b) overdose of anaesthetic
(c) the wrong administration of drugs by a physician
(d) self-medication and buying drugs over the counter
2. Analgin and penicillin must be used carefully because……………………………
(a) these may cause suffocation (b) they may create bruises
(c) some patients complain of leg cramps (d) these may cause anaphylaxis
3. An adverse drug reaction is an illness caused by……………………………
(a) secondary effects of a drug
(b) a drug having unpredictable and strange effects on a patient
(c) a drug having predictable and unpleasant disorders
(d) the use of drugs taken after their date of expiry
4. Man has invented drugs to eliminate……………………………
(a) diseases (b) side effects (c) death (d) casualties
5. Elderly people are prone to adverse drug reactions because they
have……………………………
(a) larger body size (b) multiple emotional problems
(c) slow blood flow to vital organs (d) stagnant metabolic capacity
6. The word ‘dysfunction’ in para 4 means……………………………
(a) disorder of brain (b) indigestion (c) bad temper (d) not working properly

7. What is an adverse drug reaction?

8. Why are elderly people prone to adverse drug reaction?
9. What are the factors that help a doctor in his choice and use of drugs?
10. Why has man invented medicines?
11. Find words from the passage which are similar in meaning.
(a) Not working properly (para 4)
(b) Considerably (para 8)

Answers :

1. (c) the wrong administration of drugs by a physician

2. (d) these may cause anaphylaxis
3. (b) a drug having unpredictable and strange effects on a patient
4. (a) diseases
5. (c) slow blood flow to vital organs
6. (d) not working properly
7. An unpredictable and strange effect on a patient is called an adverse drug reaction.
8. Elderly people’s blood flow to vital organs is slow so they are prone to adverse drug reaction.
9. The factors like medical history of the patient, age, sex, personality, environment and education
help a doctor in his choice and use of drugs.
10. Man has invented medicine to eliminate the misery of sickness.
11. (a) Dysfunction
(b) Substantially
Passage : 5

1. Soil is your garden’s natural growing medium, so it’s vital for the health and successful growth of
your plants and crops that you keep it well maintained. Soil is basically rock that’s been ground
down by the effects of the weather over a long period of time and made fertile by decayed organic
matter (derived from dead insects and leaves). There are hundreds of different soil types, but they
can broadly be classified as sandy, loamy or clay, referring to their basic texture. It is the texture
that affects the drainage, aeration and nutrient content of the soil and you may have to take steps
to improve on this in certain types of soil.
2. Take a handful of soil and run a small amount between your forefinger and thumb. Although all
soils contain varying proportions of sand, silt and clay, you’ll readily be able to tell the difference
between the main types.
3. Sandy soil feels gritty when dry and even it’s wet particles will not stick together. Loams, on the
other hand, can be moulded in the hand when moist, but aren’t at all sticky and gritty and are
fairly loose when dry. Clay soil is sticky and smooth when wet, but becomes polished when
rubbed and baked hard when dry.
4. A loamy soil is a well-balanced amalgamation of sand, silt and clay, which combines excellent
drainage with sufficient moisture retention to assure good growing conditions for most plants. It’s
fairly easy to look after, although loamy soils do benefit from regular applications of well-rotted
organic matter to prevent getting tightly packed.
5. The particle consistency of sandy soil doesn’t hold water well, with the result that plant foods are
often taken away by rain before they can do any good. Again, well-rotted organic matter can be
added to bind the soil particles together.
6. Clay soil is most difficult to work, usually becoming waterlogged, so they are virtually impossible
to dig. Artificial drainage will probably be the first step in improving the texture of the soil and
various additives will break down the structure to make use of its excellent food stocks.
7. There are various methods of improving your soil’s texture. Essentially this requires regular
applications of a well-rotted organic substance called humus, which is obtained from decayed
plant and animal matter (manure, compost, and seaweed, each provides ample sources).
8. The presence of chalk in soil can also affect the growth of plants: some prefer slightly acid (chalk-
free) soils, while others grow more successfully in alkaline, chalky soils. Most fruits and
vegetables, however, grow better in neutral soil.
9. Although benefiting the soil in some ways, compost, manure and fertilizers can actually add to its
acidity, as organisms break them down. Over-acid soils can be treated with applications of lime—
either hydrated (slaked) lime, or ground limestone (chalk). Of the two, ground limestone is your
best choice.
10. To apply lime, sprinkle it on the broken top soil and mix it lightly but don’t dig in; leave to wash
down by rain. Apply lime every other year if need be.
An alkaline soil can be treated with manure, garden compost or peat, well dug in.

1. We should keep soil well maintained as…………………

(a) it absorbs and retains water (b) it responds to the effects of weather
(c) it raises water table (d) it is the garden’s natural growing medium.
2. Soil is divided into various types on the basis of……………….
(a) colour (b) drainage (c) texture (d) aeration
 3. Loamy soil is the best for plant growth because……………….
(a) it is a well-balanced mixture of sand, silt, and clay (b) it has weak drainage and retention
(c) its texture responds slowly to decayed organic matter
(d) it gets tightly packed unless looked after well
4. Clay soils are the most difficult to work as…………….
(a) hey don’t hold water well (b) hey usually become waterlogged
(c) he soil particles are not held together (d) hey require natural drainage and additives
5. Soil must be tested before growing fruits and vegetables because
(a) they need alkaline soil (b) they prefer slightly acidic soil
(c) they grow better in neutral soil (d) they flourish in over-acidic soil
6. ‘Consistency’ in para 5 means………………..
(a) in agreement with (b) having same opinion (c) thickness (d) firmness

7. Which soil is the best for plant growth? Why?

8. What do you know about clay soils?
9. Why should soil be tested before growing fruits and vegetables?
10. How can texture of soil be improved?
11. Write the similar meaning to
(a) Firmness (para 5)
(b) Collection or accumulation(para 4)

Answers:

1. (d) it is the garden’s natural growing medium

2. (c) texture
3. (a) it is a well-balanced mixture of sand, silt, and clay
4. (b) they usually become waterlogged
5. (c) they grow better in neutral soil
6. (d) firmness
7. Loamy soil is the best for plant growth as it is well balanced mixture of sand, silt and clay.
8. Clay soils are the most difficult to work as they usually become water logged.
9. Soil must be tested before growing fruits and vegetables as they grow better in natural soil.
10. The texture of soil can be improved by applying a well rotted organic substance called humus.
11. (a) Consistency
(b) Amalgamation

Passage : 6

Fear of failure is an attitude problem. All of us postpone things. We procrastinate. We rationalize.

We make excuses. We foolishly believe that to be creative and to have a positive attitude and to
simply do things, we have to have all kinds of preconditions.

1. You can find several excuses for waiting to be more creative. But scratch the surface of these
smooth and logical rationalizations, and if you’re honest, you’ll see the face of a little demon, the
fear of failure, hiding there.
2. Zig Ziglar reminds us that this is nothing but an attitude problem: “The future can be depressing
or magnificent—it is not correlated to the present or the past, past failures or successes. It is only
 our attitude towards these failures or successes which determines our future.” You can change
yourself by changing your attitude without fear of error.

3. Problems cause stress and stress reduces our effectiveness. So it is very logical that once we solve
our problems, we should be able to increase our efficiency and effectiveness. Incidentally, we
can’t eliminate problems unless we opt for the final exit—the very thought of this itself is
stressful!
4. What causes our problems? Well, roughly speaking one third of our problems are there because
we are alive and kicking; another one-third of our problems are created by ourselves; and the
remaining one-third of our problems exist because of greed and ego.
5. When too many problems are causing you enormous stress and strain, do the following:
1. Think…there must be a better way to solve these problems. It helps to remember the
crow and jug story! Recall similar stories and incidents.
2. Ask, ask, ask…from yourself and from others, how to do things in better ways. May
be certain things should not be done at all or should be clubbed with other activities!
Don’t forget that even stupid questions will get your intelligent and common sense
answers.
3. Do it now! Start doing it. Don’t forget that the first step towards solving a problem
is to begin. The first step is the most difficult one, but taking it will kill
procrastination— a disease or a problem in itself.’ Do, not forget to priorities your
problems first. Those which are “C” category jobs should be delegated to others, but
do not forget to check and recheck till these get done.
6. There is always a silver lining in any gloomy situation, provided you starve the problems
and feed the opportunities. For every problem, there could be several solutions, and solutions
point towards opportunities.
7. Apply the MISER concept to solve problems. MISER… where M stands for Merge, I for
Improve, S for Simplify, E for Eliminate and R for Reduce. MISER is an excellent conceptual
sieve that helps in reducing many problems to a very few ones.

1. Most people procrastinate because……………….

(a) they are not creative (b) they adopt a wrong attitude
(c) they are too lazy to do anything (d) they wait for better opportunity
2. Our future is determined by…………………
(a) past failure (b) success in the present
(c) efforts in future (d) attitude towards past failures or success
3. Our effectiveness gets reduced as ………………..
(a) problems multiply (b) depressing time is painful
(c) stress is caused by problems (d) problems dishearten us
4. We can’t eliminate problems because…………….
(a) we are alive and kicking (b) we are inactive
(c) we are afraid of final exit (d) we postpone actions
5. The best way to tackle a problem is…………………
(a) to defer it for sometime (b) to seek help of a friend
(c) to think of an easy solution (d) to begin at once
6. The word ‘procrastinate’ in para 1 means………………
(a) obtain with difficulty (b) natural tendency to do something bad
(c) delay or postpone action (d) start a court case
 7. How does our effectiveness get reduce?
8. Can we eliminate problems? If not why?
9. What is the best way to tackle the problem?
10. Which saying has been used in passage for being optimist?
11. Write the meaning similar to
(a) Delay or postpone action (para 4)
(b) Very large (para 6)

Answers:

1. (b) they adopt a wrong attitude

2. (d) attitude towards past failures or success.
3. (c) stress is caused by problems
4. (a) we are alive and kicking
5. (d) to begin at once
6. (c) delay or postpone action
7. Our effectiveness gets reduce by problems which cause stress.
8. We can’t eliminate problems because we are alive and kicking and sometimes our greed and ego
also promote problems.
9. The best way to tackle the problem is to begin at once with positive thinking.
10. ‘There is always a silver lining in any gloomy situation’ gives a lesson of optimism.
11. (a) Procrastination
(b) Enormous

Passage : 7

1. The defence mechanism of human body is a gift of nature provided to human beings. The power
of our body to fight against various disease-producing agents is known as defensive mechanism.
This defensive mechanism depends upon various factors which can be categorised mainly into
two types—common factors and special factors.
2. Amongst the common factors, the most important is the health of human beings. We all know if
we are having a good health, our body automatically remains protected against the diseases. For
keeping good health one should have nutritious balanced diet. A balanced diet is that which
contains carbohydrates, fat, proteins, vitamins in proportionate amount.
3. The skin of our body saves us against many micro-organisms producing diseases, provided that it
is intact. In case there are cuts or abrasions on it, the micro-organisms penetrate the body through
those cuts and abrasions and can cause diseases. Therefore, a cut or an abrasion should never be
left open. In case there is no bandage, etc. available, it may be covered by a clean cloth.
4. Some bacteria are residing on and inside the human body. They are our friends and are useful for
us. They do not cause any disease and by their presence they do not allow disease-causing
organisms to settle on those places. For example, the micro-organisms, present in human saliva
secrete a chemical which does not allow diphtheria causing bacteria to grow inside the oral cavity.
5. The human body secretes a variety of fluids, which are killers for disease causing
micro¬organisms. For example, gastric juice (acidic in nature) secreted by our intestinal tract kills
all organisms which enter our body through food.
 6. There are a few automatic activities of our body known as “reflex phenomenon” which
protect the body against many infections. This reflex phenomenon includes sneezing, coughing
and vomiting. •
7. Fever is one of the most important constituents of the defensive mechanism of our body. The
organ which regulates the temperature of our body is known as hypothalamus and it is situated in
the brain. When micro-organisms after entering the body release toxic products and these reach
the brain through blood, the hypothalamus starts increasing the temperature of body the person
gets fever. This fever is very useful for the human body because by the increase of temperature the
micro-organisms which are the root cause of the problem get killed.
8. We are living in an environment which is full of bacteria. Many of these bacteria can produce
serious diseases, but all of us do not suffer from such diseases. It is due to a special power present
in our body to fight these diseases. A part of this special power of our body is known as innate
immunity. This is inherited by us. The other part of this special power is called acquired
immunity. This we gain during our lifetime.
9. In a nutshell, we can say since nature has provided us with defensive mechanism to fight against
so many diseases, let us maintain it and rather increase it by the way of immunisation.

1. One should have nutritious balanced diet because…………………………

(a) it has food items for various tastes (b) it keeps one healthy
(c) it is recommended by a dietician (d) it has all essential items
2. The defence mechanism of human body is important as…………………………
(a) it protects us from diseases (b) it checks deterioration of body
(c) it saves us from depression (d) it builds up the wear and tear
3. In order to check the micro-organisms penetration in the human
body…………………………
(a) we must cover the whole body (b) we must rub insect repelling oil
(c) we must use antiseptic solutions (d) we should keep cuts and abrasions covered
4. Gastric juice secreted by our intestinal tract kills all extraneous organisms
as…………………………
(a) it flows very fast (b) it is acidic in nature
(c) it prevents their multiplication (d) it is a natural stimulant
5. We can increase our defensive mechanism by…………………………
(a) developing friendly bacteria (b) checking infection through reflex phenomenon
(c) seeking proper immunization (d) suppressing fever in initial stages
6. (d) suppressing fever in initial stages…………………………
(a) blood poisoning (b) study of poisons
(c) harmful bacteria in plants/animals (d) poisonous
7. How can micro-organism’s penetration be checked in the human body?
8. What is the role of gastric juice in human body?
9. How can we increase our defensive mechanism?
10. What do you mean by reflex phenomenon? How is it helpful for human body?
11. Give the similar meanings.
(a) scraping or rubbing of (para 3)
(b) poisonous (para 7)
Answers:

1. (b) it keeps one healthy

2. (a) it protects us from diseases.
3. (d) we should keep cuts and abrasions covered
4. (b) it is acidic in nature
5. (c) seeking proper immunisation
6. (d) poisonous
7. Micro-organism penetration can be checked in human body by keeping our cuts or abrasions
covered.
8. Gastric juice is acidic in nature it kills all extraneous organisms.
9. We can increase our defensive mechanism by seeking proper immunisation.
10. few automatic activities of our body are known as reflex phenomenon which protect the body
against many infections.
11. (a) Abrasions
(b) Toxic