Passage 1
2. Even species listed as non-poisonous aren’t completely free of poison. The common Sand Boa, for instance, produces secretions particularly poisonous to birds. So the species doesn’t take any chance – it crushes its prey and injects poison as an extra step.
3. Do vipers need poison powerful enough to kill hundreds of rats with just one drop? After all, they eat only one or two at a time.
4. While hunting animals try their worst to kill most efficiently, their prey use any trick to avoid becoming a meal, such as developing immunity to poison. For instance, Californian ground squirrels are resistant to Northern Pacific rattlesnake poison.
5. Competition with prey is not the only thing driving snakes to evolve more and more deadly poison. Snake also struggle to avoid becoming prey themselves.
6. Some snake killers have partial immunity to poison. Famously, mongooses are highly resistant to cobra poison, and with their speed and agility, kill snakes fearlessly. It would be the death of cobras as a species if they didn’t evolve a more deadly poison to stop mongooses.
7. Poison has another important role. It’s an extreme meat softener; specific enzymes break up the insides of the prey. Normally, a reptile depends on the sun’s warm rays to aid digestion.
8. But I wonder if we cannot use venom in our favour. In remote parts of India, local hospitality often involves leather tough meat. I chew and chew until my jaws ache. If I spit it out or refuse, our hosts would be offended, I swallow like a python stuffing a deer down its throat and hope I don’t choke. If only I had poison.
Questions and Answers
(a). Russell’s viper and rat snake have different methods to attack their prey. How?
Answer: Russell’s viper injects poison into its prey, whereas the rat snake uses a non-chemical method: it catches its prey and pushes it against the ground.
Explanation: Paragraph 1 contrasts the viper’s poison with the rat snake’s non-chemical method.
(b). How does Sand Boa kill its prey?
Answer: The common Sand Boa produces secretions particularly poisonous to birds. It does not take any chance: it crushes its prey and injects poison as an extra step.
Explanation: Paragraph 2 describes the Sand Boa’s two-step method.
(c). There is a constant tussle between the hunting animal and its prey. Why?
Answer: Hunting animals try their best to kill most efficiently, while their prey use any trick to avoid becoming a meal, such as developing immunity to poison.
Explanation: Paragraph 4 explains the competition between hunter and prey.
(d). What makes the mongoose a snake predator?
Answer: Mongooses are highly resistant to cobra poison, and with their speed and agility they kill snakes fearlessly.
Explanation: Paragraph 6 mentions the mongoose’s resistance, speed and agility.
(e). What difficulty does the writer face when he is entertained in the remote parts of India?
Answer: Local hospitality often involves leather-tough meat. He has to chew it until his jaws ache and swallow it, as spitting it out or refusing would offend his hosts.
Explanation: Paragraph 8 describes the writer’s problem with tough meat.
(f). Overpowering ______ is a challenge for creatures that do not have limbs.
(a) killer
(b) humans
(c) python
(d) prey
Answer: (d) prey
Explanation: The first sentence of paragraph 1 reads “Overpowering prey is a challenge”.
(g). Poison ______ meat.
(a) enhances taste of
(b) hardens
(c) softens
(d) breaks down
Answer: (c) softens
Explanation: Paragraph 7 calls poison “an extreme meat softener”.
(h). Californian squirrels are ______ rattlesnake poison.
(a) afraid of
(b) helpless against
(c) resistant to
(d) indifferent to
Answer: (c) resistant to
Explanation: Paragraph 4 says Californian ground squirrels “are resistant to Northern Pacific rattlesnake poison”.
(i). Find the word from the passage which means the same as ‘another’ (para 1).
Answer: alternative
Explanation: Paragraph 1 speaks of “an alternative non-chemical method”.
(j). Find the word from the passage which means the same as ‘liquid substances released from glands’ (para 2).
Answer: secretions
Explanation: Paragraph 2 says the Sand Boa “produces secretions”.
(k). Find the word from the passage which means the same as ‘particular’ (para 7).
Answer: specific
Explanation: Paragraph 7 mentions “specific enzymes”.
Passage 2
2. 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. Eye injuries too, can cause cataract.
4. People exposed to sun rays for longer periods develop cataract earlier than others. Researchers opine that the smoke inhaled while smoking, carries substances internally damaging the eyes.
5. Ultraviolet radiation, invisible to the human eye, is linked to skin cancer. The victim loses vision and the world becomes dark to him.
Questions and Answers
(a). What is the major cause of blindness?
Answer: Cataract is the major cause of blindness.
Explanation: The first sentence of paragraph 1 names cataract as the major cause.
(b). When does cataract generally occur?
Answer: Cataract generally occurs in old age.
Explanation: Paragraphs 1 and 3 say it occurs more often in old age.
(c). Why does the lens of the eye become opaque in old age?
Answer: As one grows old, the lens of the eye hardens and loses its transparency, so it becomes opaque.
Explanation: Paragraph 1 explains the hardening of the lens.
(d). How does one detect cataract in early stages?
Answer: In the early stages, the vision becomes blurred and sometimes the patient sees multiple images instead of a single image of an object.
Explanation: Paragraph 2 describes the onset of cataract.
(e). Give any two factors which are responsible for the formation of cataract.
Answer: (i) A hereditary defect, due to which some children are born with cataract. (ii) Eye injuries. (Also: long exposure to sun rays; smoking.)
Explanation: Paragraphs 3 and 4 list the factors.
(f). How does cataract affect its victim ultimately?
Answer: Ultimately the victim loses his/her vision and the world becomes dark to him/her, as the opaque lens obstructs light rays from entering the eye.
Explanation: Paragraphs 1 and 2 describe the final effect.
(g). Which type of cancer is caused by ultraviolet radiation?
Answer: Ultraviolet radiation is linked to skin cancer.
Explanation: Paragraph 5 links ultraviolet radiation to skin cancer.
(h). How is smoking responsible for the development of cataract?
Answer: The smoke inhaled while smoking carries substances which damage the eyes internally.
Explanation: Paragraph 4 gives the researchers’ opinion on smoking.
(i). Find the word from para 1 that means ‘that through which light cannot enter’.
Answer: opaque
Explanation: Paragraph 1 says the lens “becomes opaque” and obstructs light.
Passage 3
2. Spread on both sides of Yamunanagar – Paonta Sahib Road in Yamunanagar district, it was designated a national park through a government notification in December 2003. However, it is alleged, lack of sufficient funds is proving to be a hindrance in wildlife conservation in the national park. The Divisional Forest officer revealed that it is the only forest in Haryana with a natural ‘sal’ tree belt.
3. As for the steps taken to ensure protection of wildlife and environment, it was disclosed that staff had been given weapons by the State Government to tackle the menace posed by poachers. The State had also set up two special environmental courts, one each at Kurukshetra and Faridabad, to deal with crimes related to poaching and illicit felling of trees from the area. Eight watering holes have been dug up across the forest area to ensure that wildlife does not stray into human habitats on its fringes in search of drinking water. Similarly, earthen dams have been constructed to conserve rainwater for the future use of wildlife.
4. It was disclosed that work to fence the area would be undertaken in the near future and more steps taken to ensure that wild fauna does not face drinking water problem in their natural habitat in the reserve forest.
Questions and Answers
(a). What is unique about Kalesar Reserve Forest?
Answer: It is the only reserve forest of its kind in Haryana, home to a wide range of wild flora and fauna. It is also the only forest in Haryana with a natural ‘sal’ tree belt.
Explanation: Paragraphs 1 and 2 state what makes Kalesar unique.
(b). Which animals are found in Kalesar Forest?
Answer: It has three elephants, a male tiger, sixteen male and female leopards, nineteen panthers and some other animals.
Explanation: Paragraph 1 lists the animals.
(c). What is proving to be a hindrance to conserving wildlife in the national park?
Answer: Lack of sufficient funds is proving to be a hindrance to wildlife conservation in the national park.
Explanation: Paragraph 2 names lack of funds as the hindrance.
(d). What is done in the park for the conservation of water?
Answer: Eight watering holes have been dug across the forest area, and earthen dams have been constructed to conserve rainwater for the future use of wildlife.
Explanation: Paragraph 3 describes the watering holes and earthen dams.
(e). Why have two special environmental courts been set up?
Answer: Two special environmental courts, at Kurukshetra and Faridabad, have been set up to deal with crimes related to poaching and illicit felling of trees from the area.
Explanation: Paragraph 3 explains the purpose of the courts.
(f). Kalesar Reserve Forest was designated a national park through a government notification in ______.
(a) February, 2003
(b) December, 2003
(c) March, 2004
(d) August, 2001
Answer: (b) December, 2003
Explanation: Paragraph 2 gives the date as December 2003.
(g). ______ watering holes have been dug up across the forest area to stop wildlife from going astray in search of water.
(a) Four
(b) Seven
(c) Eight
(d) Ten
Answer: (c) Eight
Explanation: Paragraph 3 says “Eight watering holes have been dug up”.
(h). Which word in the passage means ‘natural environment in which a particular species lives’?
(a) Habitat
(b) Flora
(c) Fauna
(d) Waterhole
Answer: (a) Habitat
Explanation: Paragraphs 3 and 4 use “habitat” for the animals’ natural home.
(i). Which word in para 3 is a synonym of ‘danger/risk’?
(a) Disclosed
(b) Fringes
(c) Poaching
(d) Menace
Answer: (d) Menace
Explanation: Paragraph 3 speaks of “the menace posed by poachers”, i.e. the danger.
(j). The word ‘illicit’ means
(a) not approved by society
(b) not allowed by rules
(c) obtained dishonestly or unfairly
(d) not allowed by law
Answer: (d) not allowed by law
Explanation: In paragraph 3 “illicit felling of trees” is a crime tried in court, i.e. not allowed by law.
Passage 4
2. This post office lets you avail of all the regular postal services available in the country while being afloat. The seal used on everything posted from Floating Post Office is unique -along with the date and address, it bears the design of a boatman rowing a shikara on the Dal Lake. The special feature of this post office is that letters posted from here carry a special design which has the picturesque scenery of Dal lake and Srinagar city. These pictures reach wherever these letters are posted to and hence promote Kashmir as a tourist destination across the world.
3. This is actually a heritage post office that has existed since British times. It was called Nehru Park Post Office before 2011. But then the chief postmaster John Samuel renamed it as ‘Floating Post Office’.
4. The post office’s houseboat has two small rooms — one serves as the office and the other a small museum that traces the philatelic history of the state postal department. It has a shop that sells postage stamps and other products.
5. But for the locals, Floating Post office is more than an object of fascination. Rs. 1–2 crore is deposited per month in Floating Post Office by communities living in and around the Dal Lake. The lake has several islets that are home to more than 50,000 people.
6. The greatest fear is the recurrence of 2014 like floods in which the houseboat had gone for a toss uncontrollably pushed by the flood. Rescue teams had to anchor it using special mechanism in a nearby highland. Then it was brought back on the Dal after the water receded. The biggest boon is that at no time of the year do you need a fan in this post-office!
Questions and Answers
(a). What is the location of the Floating Post Office in Srinagar?
Answer: It is built on a houseboat fastened on the western edge of the Dal Lake in Srinagar.
Explanation: Paragraph 1 gives its location.
(b). What is special about the seal used in the post office?
Answer: Along with the date and address, the seal bears the design of a boatman rowing a shikara on the Dal Lake.
Explanation: Paragraph 2 describes the unique seal.
(c). How is the post office helpful in promoting tourism?
Answer: Letters posted from here carry a special design with the picturesque scenery of the Dal Lake and Srinagar city. These pictures reach wherever the letters go and promote Kashmir as a tourist destination across the world.
Explanation: Paragraph 2 explains how the letters promote Kashmir.
(d). Who renamed the post office as Floating Post Office?
Answer: The chief postmaster John Samuel renamed it as ‘Floating Post Office’.
Explanation: Paragraph 3 names John Samuel.
(e). What are the two rooms of the post office used for?
Answer: One room serves as the office and the other as a small museum that traces the philatelic history of the state postal department.
Explanation: Paragraph 4 describes the two rooms.
(f). How is the post office beneficial to the locals?
Answer: Communities living in and around the Dal Lake deposit Rs. 1–2 crore per month in the Floating Post Office.
Explanation: Paragraph 5 explains its value to the locals.
(g). What is the greatest fear that the post office has?
Answer: The greatest fear is a recurrence of floods like those of 2014, in which the houseboat was pushed away uncontrollably by the flood.
Explanation: Paragraph 6 states the greatest fear.
(h). How is the post office a big boon to the people?
Answer: At no time of the year does one need a fan in this post office.
Explanation: The last sentence of paragraph 6 calls this the biggest boon.
(i). Find the word from the passage which means the same as ‘attraction’.
Answer: fascination
Explanation: Paragraph 5 calls the post office “an object of fascination”.