Passage 1
1. There are a few man-made structures that invoke an immediate mental image the moment their names are mentioned in any conversation. Take the Taj Mahal, for instance. You must be already picturing an ivory white marble mausoleum or the Great Wall of China that brings to mind an almost endless stretch of fortification, made of stones and bricks. And then, there is the Eiffel Tower.
2. Constructed to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution, the Eiffel Tower also turned into a show of strength as it showcased France’s industrial prowess in the late 19th century. While it is easy to credit the tower to Gustave Eiffel, whose name the tower bears, the French civil engineer wasn’t actually directly involved in its design.
3. The design belonged to Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, two engineers who worked with Compagnie des Etablissements Eiffel, the company that Gustave owned. They came up with their design as an entry for the competition that was to decide the centerpiece of the proposed Paris Exposition or World’s Fair, of 1889.
4. Their design won and the construction of the wrought iron tower eventually began in 1887. After two years of construction, the Eiffel Tower was inaugurated on March 31, 1889. A colossal structure with 18,000 pieces constituting a combined weight of over 7,300 tonnes, more than 60 tonnes of paint was utilised to paint every inch of the structure. The completed Eiffel Tower came to be a symbol of modern architecture, right from the choice of the material used to the fact that it existed purely to demonstrate meaning, skill and creativity, with little real utility.
5. The Eiffel Tower turned out to be a towering hit during the World’s Fair and as time passed, the fact that its height and therefore employability as a wireless telegraph transmitter proved it to be indispensable. It was used in transmission and reception over 400 km for starters and reached out across the Atlantic by 1913. It came in handy during World War I, allowing the French to intercept enemy messages and obtain crucial information. It still houses 120 antennas and is used to broadcast radio and television signals.
6. The Eiffel Tower was once the tallest man-made structure in the world. Open to visitors on all days of the year, millions of people from around the world enjoy the dazzling sight and the views that the Eiffel Tower has to offer. That number will only continue to rise like the Eiffel Tower itself, which seems to rise into the sky when viewed from close quarters.
Questions and Answers
(a). Write the synonym of ‘competence’.
Answer: The synonym of competence is prowess.
Explanation: ‘Prowess’ in paragraph 2 (industrial prowess) means skill or ability, i.e. competence.
(b). How did the Eiffel Tower help in World War I?
Answer: The Eiffel Tower helped in World War I by allowing the French to intercept enemy messages and obtain crucial information.
Explanation: Paragraph 5 describes its use as a transmitter to intercept enemy messages during World War I.
(c). Which word in the passage is the same as ‘tomb’?
Answer: The word mausoleum in the passage is the same as tomb.
Explanation: A mausoleum (paragraph 1, the Taj Mahal) is a large, grand tomb.
(d). What does it still house?
Answer: It still houses 120 antennas and is used to broadcast radio and television signals.
Explanation: The last line of paragraph 5 says the tower still houses 120 antennas.
(e). According to the data given in the bar chart provided in the passage, what do you think was the most profitable year for the Eiffel Tower?
Answer: 87.2 million euros of revenue was generated in 2019, making it the most profitable year for the Eiffel Tower.
Explanation: The tallest bar in the chart is for 2019 at 87.2 million euros.
(f). Who designed the Eiffel Tower?
Answer: The design belonged to Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, two engineers who worked with Compagnie des Etablissements Eiffel, the company owned by Gustave Eiffel.
Explanation: Paragraph 3 credits the design to Koechlin and Nouguier, not to Gustave Eiffel himself.
(g). The Eiffel Tower of France was constructed:
(a) to commemorate the centennial of the French revolution.
(b) to showcase France’s industrial prowess.
(c) in the late 18th Century.
(d) to show the power of France.
Answer: (a) to commemorate the centennial of the French revolution.
Explanation: Paragraph 2 says it was constructed to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution; showing prowess was a side effect.
(h). ‘Compagnie des Etablissements Eiffel’ was owned by:
(a) Maurice Koechlin
(b) Emile Nouguier
(c) Gustave Eiffel
(d) None of these
Answer: (c) Gustave Eiffel
Explanation: Paragraph 3 calls it ‘the company that Gustave owned’.
(i). The weight of Eiffel Tower is:
(a) 18,000 tonnes
(b) 7,300 tonnes
(c) 73,000 tonnes
(d) 730 tonnes
Answer: (b) 7,300 tonnes
Explanation: Paragraph 4 gives a combined weight of over 7,300 tonnes; 18,000 is the number of pieces.
(j). Eiffel Tower is constructed with:
(a) wrought iron
(b) pig iron
(c) cast iron
(d) malleable iron
Answer: (a) wrought iron
Explanation: Paragraph 4 refers to ‘the construction of the wrought iron tower’.
(k). How many years did it take to construct Eiffel Tower?
(a) One year
(b) Two years
(c) Three years
(d) Four years
Answer: (b) Two years
Explanation: Paragraph 4 says it was inaugurated ‘after two years of construction’ (1887 to 1889).
(l). Eiffel Tower is used:
(a) to broadcast radio and TV signals
(b) to attract tourists
(c) to intercept enemy messages
(d) to view the whole city
Answer: (a) to broadcast radio and TV signals
Explanation: Paragraph 5 says it is still used to broadcast radio and television signals; intercepting messages was its use in World War I.
(m). The Eiffel Tower houses ______ antennas to broadcast radio and TV signals.
Answer: 120
Explanation: Paragraph 5 says it still houses 120 antennas.
(n). The Eiffel Tower is the tallest man-made structure in the world till now. (True/False)
Answer: False
Explanation: Paragraph 6 says it was ‘once’ the tallest man-made structure, so it no longer is.
Passage 2
1. At a time when younger people are more into smartphones, televisions, and video games over other sources of entertainment, a nearly 55-year-old museum housing thousands of dolls from across the globe is still maintaining its old-world charm and attracting not only children and teenagers, but also visitors of all age groups, not surprising, as it actually transports you into a world where you can forget the woes of the present.
2. With over 7,500 dolls on display, Shankar’s International Dolls Museum in the capital not only entertains children, but it also teaches them about art, culture, and costumes of different cultures.
3. The idea of dolls collection was born when eminent political cartoonist and journalist K. Shankar Pillai, better known simply as Shankar, received one as a gift from the Hungarian Ambassador in the early 1950s.
4. Shankar fell so much in love with the doll that he began to collect costume dolls whenever he visited any country. Soon, he was able to collect a good number of dolls as his visits to foreign nations were frequent.
5. He began to exhibit the dolls across the country after he was able to collect a good number, but the frequent packing and unpacking were damaging the dolls. Then the idea emerged of a permanent space for the dolls and that is how the museum was set up.
6. The museum is located in Nehru House on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg in the building that houses the Children’s Book Trust, which was also set up by Shankar. The museum began in 1965 with 1,000 dolls.
7. Now there are more than 7,500 from over 85 countries. The museum has the largest number of costume dolls in the world.
8. Divided into two equal halves, one section of the museum is dedicated to Western countries like the UK, the US, Australia and New Zealand, as also the Commonwealth of Independent States and the other half to Asian, African and Middle-East countries, as also India.
9. Several countries gifted dolls to the museum to represent their country’s culture. Apart from those dolls received in exchange, there are a good number of dolls made at the workshop attached to the museum, including authentic Indian dolls in traditional attire. The dolls are sent as “return gifts” for the dolls gifted by various countries.
| Shankar’s International Dolls Museum | |
|---|---|
| Number of exhibits | 7,500 dolls |
| Floor area | 5184.5 sq. feet |
| Number of display cases | 160 glass cases, 1000 ft. long |
| Number of countries covered | 85 |
| Number of Indian costume exhibits | 150 dolls |
Questions and Answers
(a). Write the synonym of ‘melancholy’.
Answer: The synonym of ‘melancholy’ is woe.
Explanation: ‘Woes’ in paragraph 1 means sorrows, which is what melancholy means.
(b). How does Shankar’s Dolls Museum teach its visitors about art, culture and costumes of different cultures?
Answer: Shankar’s Dolls Museum is home to dolls from different parts of the world. They are dressed in traditional costumes of different countries and represent the culture of the countries they belong to.
Explanation: Paragraphs 2 and 9 say the costume dolls come from many countries and represent their cultures.
(c). Which word in the passage is the same as ‘legitimate’?
Answer: The word ‘authentic’ in the passage is the same as legitimate.
Explanation: ‘Authentic’ (paragraph 9) means genuine or real, close to legitimate.
(d). How do foreign countries contribute to the Dolls Museum?
Answer: Foreign countries contribute to the Dolls Museum by gifting dolls to the museum to represent their country’s culture.
Explanation: Paragraph 9 says several countries gifted dolls to represent their culture.
(e). How many glass display cases serve in the museum according to the data given in the passage?
Answer: A total of 160 glass cases, all adding up to 1000 ft. in length, encase and display the collection of over 7,500 dolls in the museum.
Explanation: The table lists 160 glass cases, 1000 ft. long.
(f). Comment on the significance of the workshop attached to the museum with reference to paragraph 9.
Answer: There are a good number of dolls made at the workshop attached to the museum, including authentic Indian dolls in traditional attire. These dolls are sent as “return gifts” for the dolls gifted by various countries.
Explanation: Paragraph 9 says the workshop makes Indian dolls that are sent as return gifts.
(g). How many dolls are there on display in the museum?
(a) 7,500
(b) less than 7,500
(c) more than 7,500
(d) 5,500
Answer: (c) more than 7,500
Explanation: Paragraphs 2 and 7 say there are over / more than 7,500 dolls.
(h). K. Shankar Pillai was a:
(a) cartoonist
(b) journalist
(c) both cartoonist and journalist
(d) artist
Answer: (c) both cartoonist and journalist
Explanation: Paragraph 3 calls him an eminent political cartoonist and journalist.
(i). The museum was established in the year:
(a) 1945
(b) 1955
(c) 1965
(d) 1975
Answer: (c) 1965
Explanation: Paragraph 6 says the museum began in 1965 with 1,000 dolls.
(j). The museum is located on:
(a) Gandhi Marg
(b) Nehru Marg
(c) Shankar Marg
(d) Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
Answer: (d) Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg
Explanation: Paragraph 6 places it in Nehru House on Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg.
(k). How many countries’ dolls have been put in the museum?
(a) 85
(b) 83
(c) 81
(d) 79
Answer: (a) 85
Explanation: Paragraph 7 and the table give 85 countries.
(l). Several countries gifted dolls to the museum:
(a) in exchange
(b) to represent their culture
(c) as a return gift
(d) for exhibition
Answer: (b) to represent their culture
Explanation: Paragraph 9 says countries gifted dolls ‘to represent their country’s culture’; return gifts are what the museum sends back.
(m). Shankar’s International Dolls Museum is divided into ______.
Answer: two equal halves
Explanation: Paragraph 8 begins ‘Divided into two equal halves’.
(n). Exhibitions across the country were damaging the dolls. (True/False)
Answer: False
Explanation: Paragraph 5 says it was the frequent packing and unpacking, not the exhibitions themselves, that damaged the dolls.