Passage 1
(1) High-altitude climbing is still a very dangerous task inspite of the availability of oxygen masks and other protective equipment, which modern climbers take along with them. These, of course, are indispensable accessories of climbing, but more important than these is the stamina of the climber, which ultimately determines the success of his attempt to climb. Throughout his journey, death is his constant companion, which he can keep at a distance only with his superb presence of mind. He has to tread every inch of the ground with utmost care, for a false step may not only strike him a fatal blow, but also bring disaster to the whole expedition. That is why, all expeditions invariably take with them Sherpas who are experienced climbers and who have a thorough knowledge of the nature of the terrain.
(2) The primary objective of a mountaineering expedition is to get to the top of a high mountain, which in the past has withstood all attempts to conquer it. But if an expedition does not reach its destination it should not be presumed that the expedition is a complete failure. Sometimes, operations are temporarily suspended because of bad weather, loss of some valuable equipment or sudden death of a member of the party. Every big expedition includes men who are interested in botany, biology, geology, and various other branches of science, and these men carry with them equipment for recording their observations related to the weather, the terrain, and the different forms of life in the higher altitudes. Other scientists, explorers, and expeditioners utilise the fruits of the earlier expeditioners’ observations. Thus, every unsuccessful expedition contributes to the success of later expeditions. The British expedition led by Colonel Hunt would have found the way to Everest much more difficult had not earlier expeditions armed them with useful knowledge about the death-dealing weather which they had to encounter in the vicinity of the summit.
Questions and Answers
(a). Which of the following factors determine the success of the climbers?
(a) The experience of locals
(b) Rich private organisations
(c) The experience of ordinary people
(d) Every earlier unsuccessful expedition
Answer: (d) Every earlier unsuccessful expedition
Explanation: Paragraph 2 says every unsuccessful expedition contributes to the success of later expeditions.
(b). The primary objective of a mountaineering expedition is to:
(a) get to the top of a high mountain
(b) contribute to the success of later expeditions
(c) get a thorough knowledge of the nature of the terrain
(d) feast the eyes on the distant landscape
Answer: (a) get to the top of a high mountain
Explanation: Paragraph 2 opens by stating the primary objective is to get to the top of a high mountain.
(c). Why is the death rate of climbers more than that of Sherpas?
(a) Because Sherpas climb with all the necessary equipment for protection
(b) Because Sherpas have thorough knowledge of the nature of the terrain
(c) Because Sherpas have superb presence of mind
(d) All of these
Answer: (b) Because Sherpas have thorough knowledge of the nature of the terrain
Explanation: The graph shows climbers’ deaths rising above Sherpas’, and paragraph 1 says Sherpas have a thorough knowledge of the terrain.
(d). If an expedition does not reach its destination, it should not be:
(a) suspended
(b) financed
(c) observed
(d) presumed as failure
Answer: (d) presumed as failure
Explanation: Paragraph 2 says an expedition that does not reach its destination should not be presumed a complete failure.
(e). Why was it easy to find the way to Everest for the British expedition led by Colonel Hunt?
(a) Because the expedition was temporarily suspended due to bad weather
(b) Because they recorded their observations related to the different forms of life in the highest altitudes
(c) Because in the past they withstood all attempts to conquer the expeditions
(d) Because earlier expeditions armed them with useful knowledge about the death-dealing weather
Answer: (d) Because earlier expeditions armed them with useful knowledge about the death-dealing weather
Explanation: Paragraph 2 credits earlier expeditions with arming Hunt’s team with knowledge of the death-dealing weather near the summit.
Passage 2
(1) Just by the use of colours, you can balance your diet. All you need to do is to pay a little attention to the food you eat. Nutrition experts strongly recommend adding colours to your diet. Sweets and candy bars are generally colourful, but remember they do not contain natural colours, and hence, are not healthy. The key to good health is a variety of naturally-coloured foods. The deeper the colour, the greater the benefits. Getting more colours in your diet doesn’t mean you have to drastically change your current eating habits. Have a glass of 100% juice in the morning. Keep a mix of dry fruits at hand for a quick snack. Grab an apple or a banana. Include at least two vegetables in your dinner. Get into the habit of starting your dinner with a salad. Eat fruits for dessert. Always add greens to sandwiches.
(2) Most red fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, which offer protection against ultraviolet rays and cancer, and help prevent urinary tract infections and diseases related to the circulatory system. Green vegetables, along with being appealing, possess excellent antioxidant properties that protect the eyes by keeping the retina in good condition and reduce the risk of cancerous tumours. The orange and yellow group of fruits and vegetables is rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant that improves cell communication, and thereby, helps stop the spread of cancer. The blue and purple group adds an element of richness to the plate, besides influencing the pineal gland (the third eye) and the nervous system. The white group contains sulphur compounds that protect the DNA and flavonoids, an antioxidant that protects cell membranes.
Visual input: Colours of food and their benefits
| Colour of food | Benefit |
|---|---|
| White | For the immune system; diuretics |
| Yellow | For skin health and elasticity; for healthy bones |
| Red | They improve cardiovascular conditions |
| Green | Depurative for the liver; body detox |
| Purple | To improve your sight; anti-ageing |
| Orange | For your skin and stomach; body detox |
(3) Therefore, the more colourful your diet, the better equipped your immune system would be to cope with diseases.
Questions and Answers
(a). Why are sweets and candy bars not healthy?
(a) Because they are colourful
(b) Because they are sweet and sour
(c) Because they do not contain natural colours
(d) Because they are bitter in taste
Answer: (c) Because they do not contain natural colours
Explanation: Paragraph 1 says sweets and candy bars do not contain natural colours and hence are not healthy.
(b). How should the dinner be started?
(a) With fruits
(b) With a salad
(c) With water
(d) With something sweet
Answer: (b) With a salad
Explanation: Paragraph 1 advises getting into the habit of starting dinner with a salad.
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. Green | A. For skin and stomach body detox |
| 2. White | B. For the liver |
| 3. Orange | C. For skin health and elasticity |
| 4. Yellow | D. For the immune system |
(a) 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C
(b) 1-C, 2-D, 3-A, 4-B
(c) 1-D, 2-A, 3-C, 4-B
(d) 1-D, 2-B, 3-A, 4-C
Answer: (a) 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C
Explanation: The visual input shows green for the liver, white for immunity, orange for skin and stomach detox, and yellow for skin elasticity.
(d). The key to good health is:
(a) a variety of naturally-coloured foods
(b) sweets and candy bars
(c) a glass of juice
(d) dinner with a salad
Answer: (a) a variety of naturally-coloured foods
Explanation: Paragraph 1 states the key to good health is a variety of naturally-coloured foods.
(e). Which statement from the following is NOT TRUE, according to the passage?
(a) The deeper the colour, the greater the benefits.
(b) Nutrition experts strongly recommend adding colours to your diet.
(c) The blue and purple group is rich in beta-carotene.
(d) Include at least two vegetables in your dinner.
Answer: (c) The blue and purple group is rich in beta-carotene.
Explanation: Paragraph 2 says the orange and yellow group, not the blue and purple group, is rich in beta-carotene.
Passage 3
(1) Spices bring to mind the images of tempting cuisines, fascinating voyages, and the bitter struggle for independence. Expressions like ‘variety is the spice of life’ and ‘sugar and spice and all things nice’ explain how spices play upon the literary abilities of men of letters.
(2) To the Orientals, spices are indeed the soul of their food. In the western world, spices evoke dreams of exotic tropical islands, exciting expeditions, and the rise and fall of empires. Columbus went westwards in 1492, from Europe, to find a sea route to the land of spices, but found the New World. Eight years later, Vasco da Gama went around Africa and touched Kozhikode, on the south-west coast of India. Long before that, Arabs started trading with the orient through land routes. During the 13th century, Marco Polo experienced attraction towards spices through his travels. The European conquests and trade arrangements in India and the East Indies also have a lot to do with spices.
(3) Thousands of years ago, the great masters of Ayurveda, notably, Sushruta and Charaka, discussed in detail the use of spices for culinary and medicinal purposes. Enterprising soldiers of fortune carried the knowledge of spices to Egypt. There the soldiers used the spices and aromatic herbs in food, medicine, and cosmetics, and for embalming. The conquest of Egypt and Asia by Alexander the Great made spices an article of commercial value in the Mediterranean countries, and central and northern Europe. There are reports of pepper being used in the preservation of meat and to mask the unpleasant odour of stale meat available after long winter storage.
| MEDICINAL BENEFITS OF SPICES | |
|---|---|
| MINT | TURMERIC |
| can ease hiccups | anti-cancer |
| GINGER | BASIL |
| anti-nausea remedy | can relieve gas and soothe stomach upsets |
| GARLIC | BLACK PEPPER |
| natural antiseptic | helps relieve indigestion |
| FENUGREEK | CINNAMON |
| helps flush out harmful toxins | helps lower blood pressure |
| FENNEL | CLOVE |
| can reduce bad breath and body odour | anti-microbial |
Questions and Answers
(a). Why do spices fascinate people?
(a) Because they look attractive
(b) Because they reduce the literary abilities of men of letters
(c) Because they are of little commercial value
(d) Because they bring to mind the images of tempting cuisines and fascinating voyages
Answer: (d) Because they bring to mind the images of tempting cuisines and fascinating voyages
Explanation: Paragraph 1 says spices bring to mind images of tempting cuisines and fascinating voyages.
(b). Which of the following spices can ease hiccups?
(a) Clove
(b) Turmeric
(c) Black pepper
(d) Mint
Answer: (d) Mint
Explanation: The table lists ‘can ease hiccups’ under mint.
(c). To find a sea route to the land of spices, Columbus went westwards from:
(a) America
(b) Europe
(c) Egypt
(d) Russia
Answer: (b) Europe
Explanation: Paragraph 2 says Columbus went westwards from Europe in 1492.
(d). Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE, according to the passage?
(a) Enterprising soldiers of fortune carried the knowledge of spices to Egypt.
(b) To the Arabs, spices are indeed the soul of their food.
(c) Sushruta and Charaka discussed in detail the use of spices for culinary and medicinal purposes.
(d) In the western world, spices evoke dreams of exotic tropical islands.
Answer: (b) To the Arabs, spices are indeed the soul of their food.
Explanation: Paragraph 2 says spices are the soul of food to the Orientals, not the Arabs.
(e). How is black pepper useful?
(a) It helps to mask the unpleasant odour of the stale meat.
(b) It helps relieve indigestion.
(c) It helps in the preservation of meat.
(d) All of these
Answer: (d) All of these
Explanation: Paragraph 3 mentions pepper preserving meat and masking stale odour, and the table says it relieves indigestion.