1st
PUC ENGLISH WORKBOOK ANSWERS ARTICULATION PASSAGES FOR COMPREHENSION
UNIT-B
8. READING
COMPREHENSION
READ THE FOLLOWING PASSAGES AND ANSWER THE
QUESTIONS SET ON THEM:
I. SHELLFISH IN OMAN
1) Why
is Oman’s fishing industry continuing to expand?
Ans: As Oman’s sea has diverse riches and as there is
continuous research into its marine life to see how the nation can benefit from
it, Oman’s fishing industry continues to expand.
2) Why
was abalone shellfish originally important?
Ans: The abalone shellfish
was originally important because people hoped to find beautiful pearls in their
soft tissue.
3) How
is abalone different from other shellfish?
Ans: Unlike the other
shellfish which have two shells, the abalone shellfish has only one shell and
has a distinctive flavour which is much admired.
4) State
the three uses of abalone shells.
Ans: The extremely
beautiful shell that diffracts light because of the geometrically arranged
crystals within the shell creates a wonderful shine and several such shells can
be used for decorative purposes, and to make jewellery and buttons.
5) Mention
one of the factors contributing to Oman’s growing economy.
Ans: The abalone fish
survive successfully in the shallow marine waters with rocky bottom conditions.
This environmental requirement of cold, nutritious water rising from the
brightly lit sea bed is met by the south-eastern coast of Oman where the
fishing of abalone shellfish has become a multi-million dollar industry.
6) The
abalone is fished in ………….
Ans: The abalone is fished
in Dhofar.
7) When
are abalone harvested?
Ans: Abalone are harvested
after the monsoon period.
8) Which
part of the year is best suited for harvesting abalone?
Ans: Between October and
March.
9) Bring
out the difference between the life of the young and adult abalone.
Ans: Young abalone shelter
in small groups, holding on to the underside of medium-sized boulders whereas
the adults live grouped up to a dozen together in rocky cracks.
10)
How are abalone fished undersea?
Ans: Fishermen dive to a
depth often metres assisted only by a face mask and, perhaps, fins. Groups of
up to ten men search the sea bed for abalone encrusted boulders and deftly remove
the shells using a knife, before coming up for air. A good diver searches for
large adults and will collect up to 600 specimens per day. In order to do this,
the diver may have to cover an area of 100 square metres.
11)
Give the meaning of the phrase ‘multi-million dollar’ in the context of the
passage.
Ans: A large sum contributing towards the healthy
economy of the country.
12)
Why does a diver use a knife?
Ans: To remove the shells
of the abalone fish.
II. GOOD TWIN, BAD TWINS
1) Where
did the author come across the first twin myth?
Ans: The author came across
the first twin myth in the local supermarket.
2) What
difference did the mother of the twin sons find between these two and the other
children?
Ans: She found her twin
sons to be more thoughtful, compassionate and caring towards each other than
the other children were with one another.
3) Why
are twins often classified as good and bad?
Ans: The twins are often
taken as polar opposites because of the influence of ancient myths and modern
movies.
4) What
advice does the writer give about bad behaviour?
Ans: The writer is of the
opinion that the focus of disapproval should be the bad behaviour and not the
child.
5) What
trap do some parents fall into?
Ans: Some parents fall into
the trap of contrasting their twins’ personality traits and abilities as easy
and difficult, pretty and smart, etc.
6) How
do wise parents overcome the twin myth?
Ans: Wise parents keep
their feelings to themselves. When they speak of differences between their twin
children, they translate the differences into positive points, and avoid
negative labels.
7) Why
do you think myths in general float around?
Ans: Myths come down to us
in the form of fables, parables, religious practices, etc. They influence our
subconscious mind and we are not even aware that we are under their influence.
8) Twins
are up against the human enthusiasm for comparing, contrasting and labelling
people. Draw conclusions from your reading of the passage.
Ans: In the context it
means that the twins are unfavourably pitted against the common habit of
labelling them.
III. THE MAN WHO CONQUERED EVERY PEAK IN
EUROPE
1) How
was Baber employed before he began making records?
Ans: Baber was a telecom
salesman before he began making records.
2) Name
the problem Baber faced during his attempt.
Ans: Before beginning his
venture, his problem was to find sponsors. When he was on the mountain climbing
feat, rock falls, avalanches, mines, armed mountain patrols, altitude sickness
and corrupt officials who control mountain access were the problems faced by
Baber. Weather and politics also compounded his problem.
3) Baber
entered the Guinness Book of World Records because……………
Ans: Baber entered the
Guinness Book of World Records because he conquered the highest peaks in each
of the 47 European countries in three years breaking the previous record of
seven years.
4) What
started Baber’s interest in mountaineering?
Ans: Baber was sent on an
adventure weekend as a teen and later a casual conversation with his colleagues
which turned around to mountain climbing hooked him on to the idea of entering
the Guinness Book of World Records.
5) What
qualities in Baber made his achievement possible?
Ans: Sheer determination to
overcome obstacles and love for mountaineering made his achievement possible.
6) What
does Baber mean by “I’d like to lead a normal life, but I’m on the mountain
wagon now”?
Ans: Baber means that he
would eventually like to settle down and lead a normal life in the comfort of
his home and family. But, right now he would like to conquer the mountain,
riding on it, as if it were a wagon at his command. Mountain wagon can also be
interpreted as the vehicle that would take him to his goal.
7) The
word Summit means ……………………… (sum total, peak, surface)
Ans: The word Summit means
peak.
8) List
some of the European mountain peaks mentioned in the passage.
Ans: Mt. Elberus in Russia
Mt. Daravica in Kosovo
Mt. Shkhara in Georgia
Mt. Ararat in Turkey
IV. PLANTS THAT HEAL
1) How
are foxgloves medicinally helpful?
Ans: The drug digitalis is
extracted from the Foxgloves plant. This can heal heart diseases.
2) The
drug that is extracted from foxgloves is ………………………..
a)
belladonna b) strychnine c) Nux Vomica d) digitalis
Ans: d)digitalis.
3) What
happens if belladonna and strychnine are given in small doses?
Ans: In small doses
belladonna is used as a sedative and strychnine is used to increase appetite.
4) Before
the man could manufacture drugs, plants were not the only source of medicine.
True/False.
Ans: False.
5) What
was used as painkillers by the Chinese and the South American Indians?
Ans: The Chinese were using
opium from poppies and the South American Indians were chewing cocoa leaves as
painkillers.
6) Which
plants produce oils of medicinal value?
Ans: Camphor, caster beans
and cloves produce oils of medicinal value.
7) Which
fungus proves a good antibiotic?
Ans: Penicillium fungus
proves a good antibiotic.
8)
Match the following.
A B
1)
Penicillin i)
Castor
2)
Quinine ii) Poppies
3)
Opium iii)
Penicillium fungus
iv)
Cinchona
Ans: 1) Penicillin –
Pencicillium fungus
2) Quinine – Cinchona
3) Opium – Poppies
9)
Complete the table given below.
Ans:
|
Name of the plant |
Part of the plant used as
medicine |
Illness/disease cured |
|
Foxgloves |
Leaves |
Treating heart diseases |
|
Deadly night shades |
Leaves |
Sedative |
|
Nux Vomica |
Fruit and seeds |
Increases appetite |
|
Cinchona |
Bark |
Brings down fever |
|
Penicillium notatum
Fungus/mold |
Antibiotic |
|
|
Cocoa |
Leaves |
Antibiotic |
|
Poppy |
Fruit and seeds |
Painkiller |
V. JANE GOODALL
1) What
did Jane’s mother notice?
Ans: Jane’s mother noticed
that she was spending quite a lot of time in the shed. She also noticed that
food was disappearing from the house especially bread and fruit.
2) Who
was sitting with Jane in the shed?
Ans: A young gorilla was
sitting with Jane in the shed.
3) Where
had the gorilla come from?
Ans: The gorilla had
escaped from a zoo.
4) Where
had Jane found the gorilla?
Ans: Jane found it
wandering through the park.
5) Whom
did, the mother won’t Jane to inform about the gorilla?
Ans: The mother wanted Jane
to inform the police about the gorilla.
6) Why
weren’t the police only with Jane?
Ans: The police knew all
about Jane and her animals and hence they were not angry with Jane.
7) What
did the zookeeper offer, Jane?
Ans: The zookeeper told Jane that she could go and
see the gorilla as often as she liked in the zoo for which he would send her a
free pass.
8) The
Gorilla belonged to the
a) Zoo b)
park c)police
Ans: a)Zoo.
9) Jane’s
mother went to the shed because she wanted to find
a) animals b)food c) Jane’s friends
Ans: b) food
VI. FLYING SAUCERS
1) What
did Rod always use to laugh at?
Ans: Rod always used to
laugh at the idea of flying saucers.
2) What
did Rod hear as he was getting ready to go to bed?
Ans: Just as he was getting
ready to go to bed, Rod heard a low humming noise outside, like thousands of
bees.
3) In
the field, at the end of the garden, Rod saw some
a) people b)
humming bees c) strange objects.
Ans: c) strange objects.
4) Where
could Rod view the mysterious objects clearly from?
Ans: From the wall at the
end of his garden, Rod could see the mysterious objects clearly.
5) What
was Rod sure of?
Ans: Rod was sure that the
group of men, all wearing space suits, were from outer space.
6) What
did Rod imagine about the outer space?
Ans: Rod imagined the outer
space to be a quiet, peaceful planet, quite unlike the world he lived in.
7) How
many machines did Rod see moving?
Ans: Rod saw three machines
moving.
8) Why
was Rod sod?
Ans: Rod felt sad because
the machines were leaving without him when he wanted to join them.
9) Where
did Rod find himself when he was pushed back?
Ans: Rod found himself in
the field when he was pushed back.
10) Why does Rod feel sad
when there is a mention of flying saucers?
Ans: Rod feels sad when
there is a mention of flying saucers as he wanted to go to the happy and
peaceful planet.
VII. ROBERT
1) What
was the weather like?
Ans: It was cold as it was
winter’s afternoon.
2) Who
was in the canoe?
Ans: A boy was in the
canoe.
3) When
Robert heard the cry for help, he was
a) still on the bridge b) looking at the river c)
taking off his jacket
Ans: When Robert heard the
cry for help, he was still on the bridge.
4) What
did the boy do when Robert caught hold of him?
Ans: When Robert caught
hold of him, the boy began to struggle and shout something at him.
5) The
people on the boot
a)
laughed at Robert b) did not speak to Robert
c)
left Robert in the water.
Ans: The people on the boat
left Robert in the water.
6) What
had the people on the boat been doing?
Ans: The people on the boat
had been shooting a scene for a film.
7) Pick
out the synonyms from the passage for the following words:
a)
Did not try ………. b) Pulling ……… c)
Ruined ………….
Ans: a) Did not try —
hesitated
b) Pulling — dragging
c) Ruined — spoilt
8)
Fill in the table with appropriate information given below:
a motor
boat/ film people/ winter/ Robert/ a boy/ a bridge/ afternoon/ Robert saved a
boy/ a river/ He spoilt a film.
Ans:
|
Time of Day |
afternoon |
|
Time of Year |
winter |
|
Places |
a bridge, a river, a
motorboat |
|
People |
film people, Robert, a
boy |
|
Events |
Robert saved a boy, He
spoilt a film |
VIII. USEFUL MICROBES
1) Name
various natural fertilizers.
Ans: The dung of farm
animals, straw, vegetable wastes, grass cuttings and other degradable wastes
when acted upon by bacteria and fungi turn into natural fertilizers.
2) Which
is the bacterium that lives in the swollen ports of legumes?
Ans: Rhizobium bacterium.
3) The
phrase ‘anaerobic conditions’ in the passage means
a) absence of aerobics b) absence of oxygen c)
excess of oxygen.
Ans: b) absence of oxygen
4) What
is the component used fair fermentation?
Ans: Yeast.
5) What
are nodules?
Ans: The swollen parts in
the roots of plants such as the legumes (beans, peas, soya bean, etc.) are
called nodules.
6) Name
any two degradable wastes.
Ans: Straw and vegetable
wastes.
7) How
is biogas produced? Why is biogas o valuable fuel?
Ans: Human and animal feces
and leafy waste from crops are broken down by bacteria. In the absence of
oxygen (anaerobic conditions) to produce methane (biogas). It is valuable
because it can be used as fuel for cooking and lighting.
8) Explain
the process of nitrogen fixation.
Ans: The process of
converting nitrogen to nitrates is called nitrogen fixation.
9)
How is raw sewage, o health hazard, turned Into a harmless and useful
substance?
Ans: Bacteria break down
raw sewage wastes such as feces and urine into harmless and even useful
substances as these can be used as landfills or to renovate the soil by
providing nitrates and phosphates and improving its water retention capacity.
10)
How does the bread or cake turn soft?
Ans: Yeast is added to
dough to produce carbon-di-oxide which makes the dough rise. The bread or cake
made from the dough becomes soft and fluffy due to the gas.
IX. KAMALADEVI CHATTOPADHYAY
1) Kamaladevi
is remembered even today because
a) she was a romantic figure of t freedom
struggle.
b) her ideas are relevant.
c) she believed in egalitarian politics.
Ans: b) her ideas are
relevant.
2) Kamalodevi
was a feminist at a time when feminism had already become fashionable.
True/False.
Ans: False.
3) Mention
the name of any two freedom fighters who initiated her to politics.
Ans: Panade and Annee
Besant.
4) Why
did Kamoladevi demand for uniform civil code?
Ans: She pressed for a
uniform civil code as a means to promote gender justice.
5) She
considered________ system of moss production a deathblow to traditional crafts.
Ans: She considered the
western system of mass production a deathblow to traditional crafts.
6) Match
suitable words to the word ‘union’ and use in sentences of your own.
(labourers,
judge, trade, student, food)
Ans: a) Labourers’ Union :The
Labourers’ Union decided to go on strike demanding better safety measures in
the factory.
b) Trade Union: A Trade
Urnon safeguards the rights of workers.
c) Students Union: The
principal heeded the requests made by the Students’ Union.
7) Refer
a dictionary and find the meaning of the word ‘deathblow’
Ans: A destructive event.
8) Choose
a synonym from the passage for the word ‘swadeshi’
Ans: Indigenous.
9) Why
did Komalodevi have a deep association with labour unions?
Ans: Kamaladevi’s study on
the abject situation of women in the mining industry led to her deep
association with labour unions as she could fight for the rights of women
through the union.
X. YAKSHAGANA
1) In
Yokshogona, the one who looks grander than others is the:
a) hero b)
villain c) bhagawatha.
Ans: b) villain.
2) All
roles in Yakshogona ore played by women. (True/False)
Ans: False.
3) What
system is absent in Yakshagana?
Ans: The otherwise
entangling system of caste s absent in Yakshagana.
4) What
does ‘mahiniattam’ mentioned in the passage, refer to?
Ans: A dance form of
Kerala.
5) What
does the word ‘Yoksho’ literally mean?
Ans: The word ‘Yaksha’
means demigod.
6) Besides
being an amateur Yakshagana artiste, Govlndo Prasad is
a) a teacher b)
a mechanic c) a doctor.
Ans: c) a doctor.
7) In Govinda Prosod’s
view, caste ________ a person from getting a particular role in Yakshogano.
a)benefits b) hinders c) neither benefits nor hinders
Ans: c) neither benefits
nor hinders
8) What
does the word ‘myth’ mean? Refer a dictionary and find out.
Ans: Myth means tale with
supernatural characters or events.
