Passage 1
(1) Every time a child takes a soft drink, is he laying the ground work for a dangerous bone disease? Fizzy and sugary drinks don’t cause osteoporosis but, because they are often a substitute for a glass of milk, the children miss out on taking in the calcium and vitamin D they need to build a strong skeleton. Many of them also lead a sedentary lifestyle, so they aren’t getting the bone-building benefits of vigorous exercise either. These children tend to suffer from brittle bones and fractures later on in life. In addition, they could be at a risk of being diagnosed with osteoporosis at an earlier age than most others.
(2) The Indian Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ISBMR), a body comprising experts on osteoporosis, was established in 1996, with the aim of promoting research and circulating awareness about metabolic bone diseases especially this bone-crippling disease. Osteoporosis starts in childhood but its consequences are apparent at a later stage in life. This condition causes bones to become riddled with holes, like the framework of a house that’s been attacked by termites. This can lead to broken bones, which in turn, can cause deformity, chronic pain, and disability. Osteoporosis can be fatal: up to 25 per cent of older people who suffer a broken hip, die within a year. Osteoporosis isn’t just your grandmother’s health threat. Although it strikes over 50 million women in India, it also menaces over 12 million men. It causes loss of height, pain in joints and back, and fractures, and can be very depressing. So, it is important that we adopt preventive measures to save millions of people from the risk of suffering from osteoporosis.
(3) There is a new medical understanding of the best ways to protect ourselves and our children. “Simple changes in lifestyle and nutrition will help save bones”, says Dr. Mittal. He suggests, it’s never too late to adopt bone-friendly habits, like exercise that includes walking, jogging or skipping, getting enough sunlight, and getting adequate calcium, especially through fruits, vegetables, and fermented dairy products. This move in the right direction will keep the bones healthy and prevent osteoporosis.
Questions and Answers
(a). What is the full form of ISBMR?
(a) Indian Society for Bone and Mind Research
(b) International Scheme for Bone and Mineral Reserve
(c) Indian Society for Bone and Mineral Research
(d) International Scheme for Bone and Mineral Research
Answer: (c) Indian Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Explanation: Paragraph 2 names the body as the Indian Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ISBMR).
(b). Osteoporosis causes bones to become:
(a) riddled with holes
(b) strong like iron
(c) shapeless
(d) none of these
Answer: (a) riddled with holes
Explanation: Paragraph 2 says the condition causes bones to become riddled with holes, like a termite-eaten frame.
(c). What is the aim of ISBMR?
(a) To adopt bone-friendly habits
(b) To promote research and circulate awareness about metabolic bone disease
(c) To get bone-building benefits
(d) To adopt preventive measures to save millions of people from the risk of suffering from osteoporosis
Answer: (b) To promote research and circulate awareness about metabolic bone disease
Explanation: Paragraph 2 states ISBMR was set up with the aim of promoting research and circulating awareness about metabolic bone diseases.
(d). Based on your reading of the passage, choose the incorrect statement from the following.
(a) Simple changes in lifestyle and nutrition will help save bones.
(b) It’s never too late to adopt bone-friendly habits.
(c) Osteoporosis starts in childhood.
(d) Fizzy and sugary drinks cause osteoporosis.
Answer: (d) Fizzy and sugary drinks cause osteoporosis.
Explanation: Paragraph 1 clearly says fizzy and sugary drinks do not cause osteoporosis; they only replace milk.
(e). Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘ground work’, as used in the passage.
1. Difficult work 2. Important work 3. Basic work 4. Ordinary work 5. Preliminary work
(a) (1) and (3)
(b) (3) and (5)
(c) (2) and (4)
(d) (2) and (5)
Answer: (b) (3) and (5)
Explanation: ‘Ground work’ in paragraph 1 means the basic, preliminary preparation on which something later develops.
Passage 2
(1) Child marriages are rampant in North India. They continue to blight the lives of people. Children bound by marriage are victims of blind customs and superstitions prevalent in rural areas and certain urban concentrations among the weaker socio-economic groups. Nothing seems to stop this anti-social practice despite the Child Marriage Act passed as early as in 1929, which makes child marriage a grave offence.
(2) Why do child marriages take place and what can be done to prevent them from happening? The evil thrives because of illiteracy and other related causes—the most important of which is the anxiety of parents to marry off their daughters at the earliest. In many high-illiteracy states, like Rajasthan, the practice of child marriage is in vogue. Akhha Teej is D-day for the parents of minor girls, since, on that day, the parents seek salvation from the anxiety of girls growing up in their midst.
(3) A child marriage is less likely to take place if the parents are literate or at least the father is. He is, then, aware of the legal minimum age for marriage and the health hazards his daughter will face by an early marriage. If the mother, otherwise literate, has been exposed to the importance of family planning, she is also less likely to solemnise her daughter’s wedding before the legal minimum age.
(4) Among the other reasons that parents give away young daughters in marriage is the need, felt especially by families with more than one daughter, to keep wedding expenses down. By marrying two daughters simultaneously, parents save on expenses. Parental anxiety about grown-up (14 years and above) daughters going astray, forces the less educated to give away their female children in marriage.
(5) The Child Marriage Restraint Act in 1978, raised the minimum age of marriage for girls from 15 to 18 years and for boys from 18 to 21 years. The committee, on the status of women, in its report in 1974, had recommended that all offences under the Child Marriage Restraint Act should be made cognizable and special officers be appointed to enforce the law.
(6) The crux of the problem is that the role of a girl-child in traditional rural areas is circumscribed around marriage and motherhood.
Questions and Answers
(a). Children bound by marriage are victims of:
(a) blind customs
(b) superstitions
(c) both (i) and (ii)
(d) neither (i) nor (ii)
Answer: (c) both (i) and (ii)
Explanation: Paragraph 1 says such children are victims of blind customs and superstitions, so both apply.
(b). What is Akhha Teej?
(a) The day when the family planning is exposed.
(b) The day when parents seek salvation from the anxiety of girls growing up in their midst.
(c) The day when the daughter faces health hazards.
(d) The day when two daughters marry simultaneously.
Answer: (b) The day when parents seek salvation from the anxiety of girls growing up in their midst.
Explanation: Paragraph 2 describes Akhha Teej as the day parents seek salvation from the anxiety of girls growing up in their midst.
(c). Why do parents marry two daughters simultaneously?
(a) To support the daughters
(b) To avoid health hazards
(c) To save on expenses
(d) To enforce the law
Answer: (c) To save on expenses
Explanation: Paragraph 4 says that by marrying two daughters simultaneously, parents save on wedding expenses.
(d). In what circumstance will a child marriage be less likely to take place?
(a) If the children are victims of blind customs
(b) If the parents are literate
(c) If the parents seek salvation
(d) If the parents keep wedding expenses down
Answer: (b) If the parents are literate
Explanation: Paragraph 3 opens by saying a child marriage is less likely if the parents, or at least the father, are literate.
(e). Select the option that makes the correct use of ‘grave’, as used in the passage, to fill in the blank space.
(a) Life is a battle from cradle to ______.
(b) In the ______, the rich and poor lie equal.
(c) We realised very quickly that we had made a ______ mistake.
(d) She knelt beside her father’s ______ to place flowers.
Answer: (c) We realised very quickly that we had made a ______ mistake.
Explanation: In paragraph 1 ‘grave’ is an adjective meaning serious, which fits only ‘a grave mistake’; the others use the noun (a burial place).
Passage 3
(1) Like bad news and common cold, allergies can pop up when least expected. I suddenly developed an allergy to crocin (paracetamol) some years ago after having it all my life to treat everything, from headache to fever to toothache.
(2) A stuffed or drippy nose, frequent sneezing, an itchy throat, rashes, sinus, ear pain, difficulty in breathing, stomach cramps, itchiness, red or watery eyes are some of the common symptoms of an allergic reaction. Pollen, dust, polluted outdoor air, and indoor pollutants, such as dust mites, animal dander, cigarette smoke, and mould are among the common environmental pollutants, while other triggers include medicines, paint, and chemicals in cleaners and cosmetics, such as hair colour and skin creams. Among foods, eight allergens account for almost 90% of food allergies: milk, soy, wheat, egg, peanut, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish.
(3) Most of us wrongly believe that people with allergies are either born with them or develop them in early childhood. An allergy can develop at any time in your life and its prevalence among adults is rising. While most people who develop allergies as adults have experienced some allergic reaction—either to the same or an unrelated trigger before—a few have no history of sensitivity.
(4) In an acute immune reaction, the allergy trigger may be one, but the symptom is usually caused by a combination of factors. Stress, a sterile environment that prevents the body from developing immunity and lifestyle-induced changes in the body’s hormonal balance are thought to be some triggers. This has been borne out by clinical evidence that women are more likely to develop allergies at puberty, after pregnancy, and at menopause, all pointing to hormonal causes.
(5) Avoiding the allergy trigger and taking anti-allergy medication as soon as you can, after exposure to an allergen is the best possible protection. Since pollen levels generally peak in the morning, people with airway sensitivity and asthma should postpone outdoor exercises to later in the day or stick to exercising indoors, as deeper and more rapid breathing induced by aerobic exercise causes more pollen and dust being inhaled, which can wreck your airways and lungs. Since air pollutants tend to cling to clothes and hair, changing your clothes when you come home or washing your hair before going to bed, lowers exposure.
Questions and Answers
(a). Which of the following are the common symptoms of an allergic reaction?
(a) Itchy throat and frequent sneezing
(b) Muscle pain
(c) Dryness
(d) Hair fall
Answer: (a) Itchy throat and frequent sneezing
Explanation: Paragraph 2 lists frequent sneezing and an itchy throat among the common symptoms; the others are not mentioned.
(b). Most of us wrongly believe that:
(a) allergies can pop up when least expected
(b) people develop allergies as adults
(c) allergies among adults are rising
(d) allergies are either born with them or develop them in early childhood
Answer: (d) allergies are either born with them or develop them in early childhood
Explanation: Paragraph 3 says most of us wrongly believe people are born with allergies or develop them in early childhood.
(c). What is the best possible protection?
(a) Avoiding the allergy trigger and taking anti-allergy medication.
(b) Rapid breathing induced by aerobic exercise.
(c) Washing your hair before going to bed.
(d) Pointing to hormonal causes.
Answer: (a) Avoiding the allergy trigger and taking anti-allergy medication.
Explanation: Paragraph 5 calls avoiding the trigger and taking anti-allergy medication early the best possible protection.
(d). Based on your reading of the passage, choose the incorrect statement from the following.
(a) An allergy can develop at any time in your life.
(b) The allergy trigger is usually caused by a combination of factors.
(c) Among foods, eight allergens account for almost 90% of food allergies.
(d) Taking anti-allergy medication as soon as you can, after exposure to an allergen is the best possible protection.
Answer: (b) The allergy trigger is usually caused by a combination of factors.
Explanation: Paragraph 4 says the trigger may be one but the symptom is caused by a combination of factors, so statement (ii) misreports it.
(e). Which of the following best explains the phrase ‘account for’, as used in the passage?
(a) Pass off
(b) Make up
(c) Write up
(d) Look up
Answer: (b) Make up
Explanation: In paragraph 2, eight allergens ‘account for’ almost 90% of food allergies, i.e. they make up that share.
Passage 4
(1) Politeness has been well-defined as benevolence in trifles. It is the desire to put those whom we meet perfectly at ease, and save them from every kind of petty discomfort and annoyance. The limited part of benevolence called politeness requires only an inclination to make them happy temporarily, while they are in our presence, and can be done without any sacrifice on our part or only with a slight sacrifice of our personal comfort.
(2) Politeness is said to be one of the most important characteristics of a civilised person. Politeness is the art of choosing from among your thoughts. It must be implemented in every walk of life. When we deal with people elder to us, we are polite. But an honest polite person is polite with everyone, including people of lower status, workers, and even children. Not just with humans, we must also be polite with animals as they help us.
(3) Politeness is a skill, and like any other skill, can be mastered with practice. The greatest enemy of politeness is ego. To be a polite person, you have to sacrifice your ego. It is difficult for an egoist to be polite. You have to imply politeness in your thinking, speech, and action. Actions speak louder than words. Polite actions will render fine results. Politeness will reduce your stress and boost you to be productive. Apart from your present benefits, you protect your future. Being polite makes you mentally healthy.
(4) Different rules of behaviour have to be observed depending on whether we are in the street or the drawing room, at home or school, among friends or with strangers, and so on. Our behaviour also varies on the basis of the country we hail from as there is great diversity of social etiquette between the cultures of different countries.
(5) Politeness, besides being a duty that we owe to others, is a valuable possession for ourselves. It costs nothing, and yet may, in many cases, bring much profit. The great advantage of this excellence of conduct was very clearly expressed by Dr Johnson when he said that the difference between a well-bred and an ill-bred man is that the former immediately attracts your liking and the latter your dislike.
Questions and Answers
(a). Define politeness.
(a) Doing something without any sacrifice.
(b) An inclination to make people happy temporarily.
(c) The desire to put those whom we meet perfectly at ease.
(d) A skill to annoy someone’s personal comfort.
Answer: (c) The desire to put those whom we meet perfectly at ease.
Explanation: Paragraph 1 defines politeness as the desire to put those whom we meet perfectly at ease.
(b). Our behaviour varies on the basis of:
(a) diversity of social etiquette
(b) the country we hail from
(c) the excellence of conduct
(d) politeness in thinking, speech and action
Answer: (b) the country we hail from
Explanation: Paragraph 4 says our behaviour also varies on the basis of the country we hail from.
(c). Which of the following best explains the phrase ‘actions speak louder than words’?
(a) What someone actually does means more than what they say will do.
(b) What someone says shows their intentions and feelings more clearly than what they do.
(c) People are more likely to believe what you say than what you do.
(d) Words have a greater impact than actions on someone.
Answer: (a) What someone actually does means more than what they say will do.
Explanation: The proverb in paragraph 3 means a person’s deeds matter more than their promises.
(d). Based on your reading of the passage, choose the incorrect statement from the following.
(a) There is great diversity of social etiquette between the cultures of different countries.
(b) Being polite makes you mentally weak.
(c) The greatest enemy of politeness is ego.
(d) Politeness is a skill.
Answer: (b) Being polite makes you mentally weak.
Explanation: Paragraph 3 says being polite makes you mentally healthy, not weak.
(e). ‘Being polite will render fine results’. Substitute the underlined word with the most appropriate option from the following.
(a) Give
(b) Leave
(c) Support
(d) Surrender
Answer: (a) Give
Explanation: ‘Render’ in paragraph 3 means to give or produce, so polite actions give fine results.