CBSE Class 11 English Descriptive Passage Assignment Set 01

Descriptive Passage

(1) Roshni Bairwa remembers running all the way from her home in Tonk’s Mahmoodnagar Dhani village to the room where the ‘bal samooh’ (children’s group) met. “My grandparents are getting me married, you have to do something,” the then 12-year-old told the 20 or so children sitting there.
(2) The children, all aged between eight and 16, trooped up to Roshni’s house and urged her grandparents to stop the impending wedding. Others, including village elders and teachers, joined in. The wedding was stopped. She had discovered a way out of the quagmire with the help of a local NGO and the village children.
(3) When she was in class XII, the pressure to get married returned. This time her uncle found a match for her. When she resisted, she was taunted and beaten. People would point to her as the girl who brought shame to her family and asked their children not to speak to her. “I was 16 years old and alone in the world. I walked to school with my eyes fixed to the ground. I would think sometimes, what have I done that is so terrible for everyone to hate me so much?”
(4) “I would cry myself to sleep,” recalls Roshni, who lost her father when she was two and had been abandoned by her mother shortly after. But even in those dark moments, Roshni didn’t give up, moving out of the village to Peeplu tehsil in Rajasthan where she rented a room and attended college.
(5) With education and independence came a sense of confidence. “I kept in touch with the children in the village. Every time there was a child marriage, they would call me and I would go to stop it. I realised I had already been thrown out of the village, the worst had already happened, what else could the villagers do? So I went and fought with everyone who was getting their child married,” she says with a laugh. So far she has stopped over a dozen marriages.
(6) Even without the support of the law, young girls have been crusading against the practice. Earlier this month, 19-year-old Sushila Bishnoi from Barmer succeeded in getting her marriage annulled, submitting photographs, and congratulatory messages from her husband’s Facebook account to the court. The court accepted these as evidence that the union took place when both the bride and groom were 12 years old and declared the marriage invalid.
(7) Seema Bairwal (name changed) was 15 when she was married to a man a few years older. Later when she started attending ‘bal samooh’ meetings with NGO Shiv Shiksha Samiti and Save the Children, it dawned on her that she had a choice. “I learnt that my life is mine. I have the power to say no to marriage.”

Question. Fill in the blank.
The brides mentioned in the passage are rebel against the _________________________.

Answer: practice of child marriage.

Question. With whose help did the 12-year-old girl Roshni succeed in her mission?
(a) With the help of 20 children aged between eight and sixteen
(b) With the help of her grandparents
(c) With the help of 20 children, her grandparents, village elders and teachers
(d) With the help of children and an NGO

Answer: (iv) With the help of children and an NGO

Question. When she was sixteen, the people of the village:
(a) taunted her and beat her up
(b) boycotted her
(c) were angry with her
(d) were sympathetic and understanding

Answer: (a) taunted her and beat her up

Question. Roshni moved out of the village in order to:
(a) seek a job
(b) escape the village
(c) attend college
(d) marry a boy of her choice

Answer: (c) attend college

Question. The phrase ‘give up’ in para 4 means:
(a) stop attending classes
(b) stop doing something
(c) very eager
(d) voluntary help

Answer: (b) stop doing something

Question. Education and independence made Roshni confident. (True/False)

Answer: True

Question. Which of the following means the same as ‘annulled’ in para 6?
(a) To state officially that something is not legally valid
(b) To help somebody
(c) Impending doom
(d) Social works

Answer: (a) To state officially that something is not legally valid

Question. Is the given statement TRUE or FALSE?
‘Bal Samooh’ meetings with NGO Shiv Shiksha Samiti and ‘Save the Children’ encouraged child marriage.

Answer: False

Question. Fill in the blank.
Roshni was _________________ years old when she lost her father.

Answer: two

Question. Complete the following statement.
Roshni gained confidence in her life with __________________________________.

Answer: education and independence.

(1) When M K Gandhi was thrown out of a train in South Africa, he had a choice to make – either to ignore the event and live in peace or enter into a conflict and face harassment, hardship and the possibility of getting physically hurt. He chose the latter. Why? Did he not have a guru who had taught him that living in peace and tranquillity was the ultimate objective of life and the best way to achieve this objective was to avoid situations of conflict? Why did he not walk away?
(2) The Dalai Lama chose to live in exile rather than live in peace in Tibet. He is a spiritual master himself. He preaches peace around the world. Does he not know that living in peace requires avoiding situations of conflict?
(3) Aung San Suu Kyi did not have to stay in jail. Winston Churchill did not have to join the World War. Nelson Mandela did not have to suffer in solitary confinement. Julius Nyerere did not have to fight a war with Idi Amin. There is a long list of people who have embraced conflict, despite standing for peace, otherwise. They had the courage to stand up against repression rather than submit to it. Ancient stories of war say that it is absolutely necessary for one to stand up for what is right, rather than being a coward and succumbing to tyranny and subjugation. Therefore, they did not find anything wrong in waging a war if it was for upholding truth and justice, and believed that it is the duty of every warrior.
(4) Most of us are confused between conflict and the method of resolving a conflict. We assume, incorrectly, that Gandhi, as a peace-loving person, must have avoided situations of conflict. On the other hand, he faced conflict head-on. Bhagat Singh and Gandhi were both gearing themselves to deal with conflict, except that Gandhi tried to employ peaceful means while Bhagat Singh chose aggression.
(5) The duty of a scientist, artist or professor is also to engage in conflict against repressive regimes of knowledge. Any kind of limited knowledge is a form of bondage. Albert Einstein advanced the boundaries of scientific knowledge. James Joyce did the same in the world of literature. He flouted rules of writing as he saw them as restrictions on creativity. Picasso and M.F. Husain, for example, explored realms beyond accepted rules in visual art. Mother Teresa redefined the concept of caring. Every one of them faced criticism and controversy, yet they remained convinced by the nature of their work and the methods they used to fulfil their vision. They remained engaged.
(6) One can only conclude from this that the people we admire and even those whom we worship have all rejected the existing as being adequate and have chosen to engage in conflict to expand the existing. They have redefined the purpose of our life.
(7) The purpose of our life is not to live in passive acceptance but to engage with conflict in order to be creative. Creativity is the purpose of life. The purpose is to advance an individual soul and the collective consciousness. The only word of caution here is that we must first settle ourselves spiritually so that we know whether a conflict is justified or not.

Question. Peace loving personalities chose the way of conflict so that they could challenge the forces of:
(a) peace and harmony
(b) war and peace
(c) tyranny and repression
(d) peace and progress

Answer: (iii) tyranny and repression

Question. Ancient war stories justify war by saying that it is:
(a) the duty of a warrior
(b) an excuse of a coward
(c) a diplomatic stand in the larger interest
(d) selfishness of an individual

Answer: (i) the duty of a warrior

Question. Fill in the blank.
Mahatma Gandhi enjoyed __________________ as a way of conflict.

Answer: peaceful means

Question. The author wants the scientists, artists and teachers to:
(a) support repressive regime
(b) challenge repressive knowledge
(c) stand by old theories
(d) refute old beliefs

Answer: (ii) challenge repressive knowledge

Question. Any conflict must be:
(a) personal
(b) general
(c) justified
(d) groundless

Answer: (iii) justified

Question. People like Albert Einstein, James Joyce, Mother Teresa, etc., have redefined:
(a) the literature of the world
(b) the purpose of our life
(c) creativity
(d) controversy

Answer: (ii) the purpose of our life

Question. Fill in the blanks appropriately.
James Joyce flouted the rules of ____________ as he saw them as restrictions on his ______________.

Answer: writing; creativity

Question. Complete the given statement.
The purpose of our life is not to live in passive acceptance but to ______________________________________________.

Answer: engage with conflict in order to be creative.

Question. Find the word from para 1 which means the same as ‘adversity’.

Answer: hardship

Question. State whether the given statement is TRUE or FALSE.
Any kind of limited knowledge is a form of bondage.

Answer: True

(1) Today there is a lot of talk about the environment. All nations are coming to an agreement to save planet earth. Like we pollute the earth, we pollute the water; we also pollute the subtle environment through our negative feelings and emotions. We have become a victim of our greed and needs. We are not in control of our mind. We hear a lot about other things in life but we spend very little time to hear about ourselves. How to handle our mind? How to be in the present moment? How to be happy and be grateful? This we have not learnt. This is the most unfortunate thing. Then, what is the solution? This is where we are reminded of a very fundamental principle that governs our environment, our mind, our emotions and our life in general.
(2) Our body has the capacity to sustain much longer the vibrations of bliss and peace than it does negative emotions because positivity is in the centre of our existence. Just like in the structure of atom, protons and neutrons are in the centre of the atom and electrons are only the periphery, the same is with our lives; the centre core of our existence is bliss, positivity and joy, but it is surrounded by a cloud of negative ions. Through the help of the breath, we can easily get over our negative emotions in a short period of time. Through meditation and certain breathing techniques, we can clear this negative cloud.
(3) This life has so much to offer to you. You can see this once you take some time off, rejuvenating the soul. Your soul is hungry for a smile from you. If you could give this, you feel energised the whole year and nothing, whatsoever, can take the smile away from you.
(4) Everyone wants to be successful in life. But without knowing what is success, you want to be successful. What is the sign of success? Just having a lot of money, is that success? Why do you think money means success? Because money gives you freedom to do whatever you want. You may have a big bank balance but you have stomach aches, ulcers, you may have to go for bypass surgery; can’t eat this, can’t do this, can’t do that. We spend half our health to gain wealth and spend half our wealth to gain back the lost health. Is this success? In fact, it is very bad mathematics.
(5) Look at those who claim to be successful – are they successful? No, they are miserable. Then, what is the sign of success? It is confidence, compassion, generosity and a smile that none can snatch away, being really happy and being able to be freer. These are the signs of a successful person.
(6) Take some time off to look a little deeper into yourself and calm the mind down. Thus, erasing all the impressions that we are carrying in our minds and experience the presence of the divine that is the very core of our existence. The feeling gives us immeasurable joy.

Question. How do we pollute our environment?
(a) By becoming victims to our greed and needs
(b) By not listening to indicators about ourselves
(c) Through our negative feelings and emotions
(d) By not being in control of our mind

Answer: (iii) Through our negative feelings and emotions

Question. How can we get rid of our negative emotions?
(a) By keeping longer, the vibrations of bliss
(b) Through meditations and using some breathing techniques
(c) By ignoring clouds
(d) By preserving the protons and neutrons

Answer: (ii) Through meditations and using some breathing techniques

Question. In para 2, ‘positivity’ has been compared to:
(a) protons and neutrons
(b) electrons
(c) cloud of ions
(d) atom

Answer: (i) protons and neutrons

Question. We can feel the presence of the divine at the core of our existence if we:
(a) are healthy
(b) take time off
(c) can erase the impressions in our minds
(d) meditate

Answer: (iii) can erase the impressions in our minds

Question. Which of the following words means the same as ‘sustain’ as given in para 2?
(a) Keep alive
(b) Experience
(c) Remember
(d) Create

Answer: (i) Keep alive

Question. Is the given statement TRUE or FALSE?
We spend half our health to gain wealth and spend half our wealth to gain back the health.

Answer: True

Question. The signs of a successful person are: (any three)
(1) _______________________________________
(2) _______________________________________
(3) _______________________________________

Answer: (1) confidence (2) compassion (3) generosity

Question. When we calm the mind, we erase all the memories that we are carrying in our minds. (True/ False)

Answer: False

Question. Complete the given statement.
Positivity is in the centre of our existence because ___________________________________________________________.

Answer: our body has the capacity to sustain much longer the vibrations of bliss and peace than it does negative emotions.

Question. Fill in the blank.
Money gives you ______________ to do whatever you want.

Answer: freedom

(1) Computers are capable of doing extremely complicated work in all branches of learning. They can solve the most complex mathematical problems or put a thousand unrelated data in order. These machines can be put to varied uses. For instance, they can provide information on the best way to prevent traffic accidents. They work accurately and at high speed.
(2) They save research workers’ years of hard work. This whole process by which machines can be used to work for us has been called ‘automation’. In future, automation may enable human beings to enjoy more leisure than they do today. Automation is bound to have important social consequences.
(3) Some years ago, an expert on automation, Sir Leon Bagrit pointed out that it was a mistake to believe that these machines could think. There is no possibility that human beings will be controlled by machines. Though computers are capable of learning from their mistakes and improving on their performances, they need detailed instructions from human beings to be able to operate. They can never lead independent lives or rule the world by taking decisions of their own.
(4) Sir Leon said that in future, computers would be developed which would be small enough to be carried in one’s pocket. Ordinary people would then be able to use them to obtain valuable information. Computers could be plugged into a wireless network and can be used like radios. For instance, people going on a holiday, could be informed about weather conditions. Car drivers can be given an alternative route, when there is a traffic jam. It will also be possible to make tiny translating machines. This will enable people, who do not share a common language, to talk to each other without any difficulty or to read foreign publications.
(5) It is impossible to assess the importance of a machine of this sort, for many international misunderstandings are caused simply due to our failure to understand each other. Computers will also be used in ordinary public hospitals. By providing a machine with a patient’s symptoms, a doctor will be able to diagnose the nature of his illness. Similarly, machines could be used to keep a check on a patient’s health record and bring it up to date. Doctors will, therefore, have immediate access to great many facts which will help them in their work. Bookkeepers and accountants too could be relieved of dull clerical work. For the tedious task of compiling and checking lists of figures could be done entirely by machines. Computers are the most efficient servant man has ever had and there is no limit to the way they can be used to improve our lives.

Question. Study the following statements and choose the CORRECT one.
(a) There is no possibility that human beings can be on their own with no need of machines.
(b) Human beings are likely to be controlled by machines one day.
(c) There is no possibility that human beings will ever be controlled by machines.
(d) Machines can replace humans.

Answer: (iii) There is no possibility that human beings will ever be controlled by machines.

Question. Which one of the following statements is TRUE, according to the passage?
(a) Computers can solve only certain mathematical problems.
(b) Computers can’t solve any mathematical problems.
(c) Computers can solve the most complex mathematical problems.
(d) Computers can solve only simple mathematical problems.

Answer: (iii) Computers can solve the most complex mathematical problems.

Question. Computers can be used to:
(a) find treatment for the patient’s illness
(b) prescribe a medicine for the patient
(c) diagnose the nature of patient’s illness
(d) keep the patient in good mood

Answer: (iii) diagnose the nature of patient’s illness

Question. Many international misunderstandings are caused due to our failure to understand:
(a) ourselves
(b) other nations
(c) our friends
(d) each other

Answer: (iv) each other

Question. Which of the following is explained in the given passage? (Competency-focused Question)
(a) Computer and its advantages
(b) The different uses of computers
(c) Computers rule man
(d) Computers revolutionize man’s life

Answer: (ii) The different uses of computers

Question. Complete the table given below.

Answer:
Uses of Computer: Provides information on best way to prevent traffic accidents
Uses of Computer: Keeps a check on patient's health record

Question. Fill in the blank.
The process in which machines can be used to work for is called ______________.

Answer: automation

Question. Complete the given statement.
Sir Leon Bagrit pointed out that there is no possibility that __________________________________________________.

Answer: these machines could think.

Question. Many international misunderstandings are caused simply due to our failure to understand each other. (True/False)

Answer: True

Question. Find the word from para 2 which means the same as ‘results’.

Answer: consequences