Passage 1
1. Do animals, birds and insects love the rains?
2. Some of us love rains and cannot resist stepping out and dancing in them, whereas others love watching and listening to its sound while sipping a hot cup of coffee. There cannot be many who hate rain, unless it turns out to be incessant, causing flood and disasters. What about animals? Do they like to stroll and dance in the shower or do they run for cover? Tastes and preferences differ in the animal kingdom too. While some do not mind rain, others are simply annoyed or scared.
3. Rain avoiders: For warm-blooded animals like mammals and birds, getting drenched in rain can be dangerous. They have to keep up their body temperature or they may become too cold to stay alive. But almost all species have some kind of protection on their skin – fur in animals and feathers in birds. A few drops or a few hours of rain are bearable. Their fur will help them to stay warm. Some birds dip their bills into oil glands near their tails and apply it over their feathers. The oil serves like a raincoat for a while. But when the rain gets worse, the animals use other tactics to stay dry. A deer may flatten its ears to keep water out and a hippo may close its nostrils.
4. Don’t minders: But a hippo or a buffalo do not mind pouring rain. They stand still and wait out a sudden storm. It’s a thick layer of fat that’s at work in these animals in rain.
5. Cuddlers: Most terrestrial animals seek cover. In the forest, during storms, orangutans have been observed to make ‘hats’ out of leaves. They also retreat to an enclosure and huddle together, sitting out in rains. They may shelter under rocks or underground or on tree logs.
6. What about animals in the water? Frogs, turtles and fish may retreat to lower levels of lakes and ponds, with some seeking added shelter under things like fallen rocks or woods. Thunder and lightning can freak out many animals – even big elephants and apes.
7. Rain bravers: Reptiles’ scaly skins are composed of a protein called keratin, which allows waterproofing qualities. It also helps to remain hydrated. Crocodiles are pretty good at dealing with inclement weather. They remain calm and cool and never freak out. It’s a different story for furry animals, such as giant pandas, tigers, brown bears. They can just shake themselves dry in mere seconds. For some animals, the rainy season is a time to party. On a rainy day, elephants head out for some mud bath, while toads look out for their mate. Earthworms end their day’s long confinement under the soil and peep out their head. For it is time to slither on the surface, while still staying moist.
| Ideal Body Temperature of Animals and Birds | |
|---|---|
| Species | Temperature in Celsius (°C) |
| Human | 37 |
| Hippopotamus | 37.8 |
| Water Buffalo | 38.2 |
| Peacock | 38.9 |
| Orangutan | 36.5 |
| Deer | 40 |
| Frog | 23 |
| Crocodile | 30 |
| Elephant | 36.5 |
| Brown Bear | 37.5 |
| Earthworm | 22 |
Questions and Answers
(a). Write the synonym of ‘withdraw’.
Answer: The synonym of ‘withdraw’ is retreat.
Explanation: ‘Retreat’ (paragraphs 5 and 6) means to move back or withdraw to a safer place.
(b). What helps reptiles brave the rains?
Answer: Reptiles’ scaly skins are composed of a protein called keratin, which allows waterproofing qualities to brave the rains.
Explanation: Paragraph 7 says keratin in reptiles’ scaly skin makes it waterproof.
(c). Are there many who hate rain?
Answer: There cannot be many who hate rain, unless it turns out to be incessant, causing floods and disasters.
Explanation: Paragraph 2 says few people hate rain unless it becomes incessant.
(d). Which word in the passage is the same as ‘bleak’?
Answer: The word inclement is the same as bleak.
Explanation: ‘Inclement’ weather (paragraph 7) is harsh, cold and stormy, i.e. bleak.
(e). With reference to the data provided in the table in the passage, which animals would you club into the cold-blooded category?
Answer: Frog, earthworm and crocodiles have the lowest body temperature of them all, hence they can be clubbed into the cold-blooded category.
Explanation: The table shows frog (23 °C), earthworm (22 °C) and crocodile (30 °C) far below the 36–40 °C of mammals and birds.
(f). The passage says that a few drops or a few hours of rain are bearable with respect to rain-avoider animals. Justify the comment.
Answer: For warm-blooded animals like mammals and birds, getting drenched in rain can be dangerous. They have to keep up their body temperature or they may become too cold to stay alive. But almost all species have some kind of protection on their skin – fur in animals and feathers in birds. These adaptations make rain bearable for a few hours.
Explanation: Paragraph 3 explains that fur and feathers protect warm-blooded animals for a short while.
(g). Warm-blooded animals keep up their body temperature during rains because:
(a) they hate rains.
(b) they like to step out in rains.
(c) they become too cold to stay alive.
(d) their fur get drenched.
Answer: (c) they become too cold to stay alive.
Explanation: Paragraph 3 says they must keep up their body temperature or they may become too cold to stay alive.
(h). What does a deer do to avoid rain?
(a) It flattens its ears.
(b) It closes its nostrils.
(c) It moves its tail.
(d) It goes in the shed.
Answer: (a) It flattens its ears.
Explanation: Paragraph 3 says a deer may flatten its ears to keep water out; it is the hippo that closes its nostrils.
(i). Fish and turtles seek shelter during rains by:
(a) retreating to an enclosure.
(b) hiding under leaves.
(c) retreating to lower levels of lakes and ponds.
(d) going under tree logs.
Answer: (c) retreating to lower levels of lakes and ponds.
Explanation: Paragraph 6 says frogs, turtles and fish retreat to lower levels of lakes and ponds.
(j). Which animals are said to be rain bravers?
(a) Reptiles
(b) Aquatic animals
(c) Terrestrial animals
(d) Mammals
Answer: (a) Reptiles
Explanation: Paragraph 7, headed ‘Rain bravers’, is about reptiles.
(k). Which animals make ‘hats’ out of leaves?
(a) Hippo
(b) Bear
(c) Orangutan
(d) Deer
Answer: (c) Orangutan
Explanation: Paragraph 5 says orangutans have been observed making ‘hats’ out of leaves.
(l). ‘Keratin’ present in the scaly skin of the reptiles is a kind of:
(a) carbohydrate
(b) protein
(c) mineral
(d) fat
Answer: (b) protein
Explanation: Paragraph 7 calls keratin ‘a protein’.
(m). Big elephants and apes are frightened by ______ and ______.
Answer: Thunder and lightning.
Explanation: Paragraph 6 says thunder and lightning can freak out even big elephants and apes.
(n). Crocodiles become aggressive during rainy season. (True/False)
Answer: False
Explanation: Paragraph 7 says crocodiles remain calm and cool and never freak out.
Passage 2
1. Cataract is the major cause of blindness, which is also caused by a damage to the cornea. It refers to an eye disorder causing the eye’s lens to be opaque and cloudy hence reducing the vision. The lens is the clear part which helps to focus the light rays entering the eye onto the retina which is sensitive to light and is located at the back of the eye. In order to function properly, the parts that are in front of the retina have to be transparent to allow a sharp image to fall on the retina. It occurs more often in old age. As one starts growing old, the lens of the eye hardens, loses its transparency and becomes opaque. It obstructs the light rays from entering the eye.
2. The disorder is more common among the elders and statistics have proven that by the age of 80 years, more than 40% suffer from cataracts and this condition worsens as the age increases. A cataract may occur on either one of the eyes or both. The onset of cataract blurs the vision. Sometimes, the cataract patient sees multiple images instead of a single object image. Because of the gradual development of cataract, the afflicted person loses his/her vision and the world becomes dark to him/her.
3. The development of cataract is a complex process. However, the following factors can be attributed to its formation. Cataract generally develops in old age but sometimes, children are born with cataract because of hereditary defect. This type of cataract is called congenital cataract. Cataracts may also develop as a result of other diseases such as diabetes or trauma to the eye. Eye injuries too, can cause cataracts. Other types of cataracts, especially in younger people and diabetics, may progress fast.
| Number of Cataracts in India | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Age Group | Right Eye | Left Eye | Total |
| 0–4 | – | – | – |
| 5–9 | – | – | – |
| 10–14 | 13,950 | 13,870 | 27,820 |
| 15–19 | 5,309 | 1,241 | 6,550 |
| 20–24 | 6,270 | 18,167 | 24,437 |
| 25–29 | 14,172 | 20,838 | 35,010 |
| 30–34 | 16,694 | 10,761 | 27,455 |
| 35–39 | 45,022 | 46,425 | 91,447 |
| 40–44 | 107,794 | 106,695 | 214,489 |
| 45–49 | 274,941 | 266,191 | 541,132 |
| 50–54 | 679,372 | 650,885 | 1,330,257 |
| 55–59 | 1,216,234 | 1,014,013 | 2,230,247 |
| 60–64 | 1,674,581 | 1,665,855 | 3,340,436 |
| 65–69 | 2,026,844 | 2,266,577 | 4,293,421 |
| 70–74 | 4,324,444 | 4,599,241 | 8,923,685 |
| Total | 10,405,627 | 10,680,759 | 21,086,386 |
5. Overexposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is responsible for two major public health problems: skin cancer and cataract. Ultraviolet radiation, invisible to the human eye, is linked to skin cancer. A gradual progression of vision problem, eventually, if not treated, may result in vision loss. The victim loses vision and the world becomes dark to him. Cataracts can be removed completely through surgery.
Questions and Answers
(a). Why does the lens of the eye become opaque in old age?
Answer: Lens of the eye hardens and loses its transparency and becomes opaque in old age.
Explanation: Paragraph 1 says that as one grows old the lens hardens and loses its transparency.
(b). How does cataract affect its victim ultimately?
Answer: Cataract may lead to a complete loss of vision.
Explanation: Paragraphs 2 and 5 say the afflicted person finally loses vision and the world becomes dark.
(c). How does one detect cataract in early stages?
Answer: In early stages, the vision becomes blurred, one may also see multiple images in place of one.
Explanation: Paragraph 2 says the onset blurs vision and may cause multiple images.
(d). Give any two factors which are responsible for the formation of cataract.
Answer: Any two factors which are responsible for the formation of cataract are long exposure to sun rays and hereditary defect.
Explanation: Paragraphs 3 and 4 list heredity, diseases like diabetes, eye injury, long exposure to sun rays and smoking.
(e). Find the word from para 1 that means ‘that through which light cannot enter’.
Answer: Opaque.
Explanation: ‘Opaque’ (paragraph 1) describes something light cannot pass through.
(f). How is smoking responsible for the development of cataract?
Answer: Smoke, when inhaled, carries a substance that damages the eye and causes internal harm to the eye thereby developing cataract.
Explanation: Paragraph 4 says inhaled smoke carries substances that damage the eyes internally.