Read
the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain
words/phrases are given in bold to help you to locate them while answering some
of the questions.
During
Emperor Akbar’s reign, there was a poor man in Agra, who was throught to bring
bad luck. People believed that if any one looked at his face in the morning,
they would have a bad day.
“Get
lost, you ugly fellow!” he would be cursed by one and all. “Hide your face
before you kill someone with your evil eye!”
The
emperor soon heard of this man’s reputation and wanted to see him. The poor
fellow, who had not harmed a single person in his life, was brought to Akbar.
Akbar
took a look at him and asked him to be brought back in the evening. That
particular day was an especially full and tiring day for the emperor and his
courtiers.
So,
many matters had to be attended to that Akbar even forgot to eat. By the end of
the day, the emperor was exhausted. To make matters worse, Akbar was informed
that his favourite child, little Prince Salim, had fallen ill.
Then
the emperor suddenly remembered that he had seen the face of the ‘unlucky’ man
that morning.
That
was it. It was that man’s entire fault, Akbar decided.
Akbar
called his courtiers and told them that he was going to have ‘unlucky’ man
executed. All of them agreed immediately.
That
is all except Birbal. Instead, Birbal let out a short laugh.
“What
is the matter, Birbal?” asked the emperor “You seem to find something funny!”
“Nothing,
your majesty, “replied Birbal
“You
say this man brings bad luck because you had to go without food ever since you
saw him this morn ing. Look at his luck. Yours was the first face he saw today,
and has to die because to it.”
Akbar
immediately realized his folly and rewarded Birbal for his wisdom.
1.
Why had the king not eaten his food?
a)
He was very busy that day
b)
He had seen the face of the unlucky fellow
c)
He was not feeling well
d)
None of these
2.
Who was not well on that particular day?
a)
King Akbar
b)
The King's courtiers
c)
Birbal
d)
Prince Salim
3.
Which of the following describes Birbal?
a)
He was a famous merchant
b)
He had lost his senses
c)
He was very poor
d)
He possessed good logical thinking
4.
Which of the following is true in the context of the passage?
a)
The poor man wanted to see the king
b)
The poor man was well educated
c)
The courtiers were sympathetic with the poor man
d)
King Akbar realized his mistake
5.
What was Birbal’s initial reaction when he heard that the poorman would be
executed?
a)
He was angry because Akbar had not taken his advice
b)
He laughed slightly
c)
He was silent and wanted to give a change to the poor man
d)
None of these
6.
Choose the word that is most nearly the same meaning as the word/phrase printed
in bold as used in the passage.
Reputation
a)
Character b) Respect c) Fame
d)
Report
7.
Choose the word that is most nearly the same meaning as the word/phrase printed
in bold as used in the passage.
Folly
a)
Argument b) Mistake c) Words
d)
Conflict
8.
Choose the word which is the most opposite in meaning of the word printed in
bold as used in the passage.
Hide
a)
Seek b) Show c) Go away
d)
Indicate
9.
Choose the word which is the most opposite in meaning of the word printed in
bold as used in the passage.
Exhausted
a)
Consumed b) Drained c) Restless
d)
Energetic
Read
the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain
words are printed in bold to help you locate them while, answering some of the
questions.
In
the town, where Abhiram painted pictures of gods and goddesses, everyone knew
him only as a stranger, who had always painted pictures for a living. No one knew
him or his past. He would think, “I was once wealthy but its all gone now
______ and in a way it is for the better. I meditate on various forms of God
all day long now, my bread and butter comes from that. I also place his image
in all the houses. None can take away the respect and goodwill this earns me.”
One day the royal Minister passed away. The King employed a new Minister from a
foreign land. The whole town was abuzz with the news but that day Abhiram’s
fingers stilled to a halt. Abhiram’s father and adopted an orphan boy, whom he
raised and trusted
more than his own son, Abhiram. But the boy had turned traitor and had stolen
the old man’s fortune from him. The very same man and now come to the new
kingdom as the new Minister. The room where Abhiram painted was also his puja
room. He went in, folded his hands and queried, “Is this why I have spent so many
years meditating on. You through every colour, every line? Is this how you reward
me – with such an insult?”
The
chariot pageant was coming up. At the fairgrounds many people from different
lands thronged to buy Abhiram’s pictures. In that throng, there was a little boy
watched over by servants. He picked out one picture. Abhiram turned to the child’s
attendant and asked, “who is this boy?” He replied, “The only son of our royal
Minister.” Abhiram covered his paintings with a cloth and said, “I will not
sell my pictures.” Which only made the child want the picture even more? He
came home and sulked in the corner and refused to eat. The Minister sent a
bagful of coins for Abhiram, but the bag came back to the Minister untouched.
The Minister said to himself, “what audacity!” The more he was pestered,
the more dogged was Abhiram’s refusal and he thought, “This is my
victory.”
Every
morning the first thing Abhiram did was to paint a picture of his own beloved
deity. This was the only form of worship known to him. One day, he realized the
painting wasn’t to his satisfaction. Something looked different. It wasn’t
looking right. He felt tormented. As the days passed, the subtle difference became
more apparent until one day Abhiram looked up, started by the realization ________
he could see it clearly now - the face oif his God was beginning to look more
and more like the Minister. He hurled his brush to the ground and said, “So the
Ministger wins!” That same day the painting to the Minister and said, “Here is the
picture, give it to your son.” The Minister asked, “How much?” Abhiram said, “You robbed me of my devotion to God I shall gain
it back by gifting you this picture.” The Minister had no idea what
he was talking about.
10.
Why did Abhiram paint a picture of one particular deity every morning?
a)
His paintings of this particular deity were very popular and he sold many of
them
b)
He kept trying to paint the picture well but he never succeeded
c)
In memory of his father, who had great devotion for the deity
d)
It was his way of praying
11.
Why did the Minister send a bagful of gold to Abhiram’s house?
a)
As penance for taking Abhiram’s rightful share of their father’s property
b)
He admired artists and wanted to pay his respects to Abhiram
c)
As a bribe to ensure that Abhiram would keep t heir past a secret
d)
He wanted to purchase a painting that his son was determined to have
12.
Why was Abhiram disappointed with his most recent painting?
a)
Despite his best efforts, he could not get the painting to resemble the Minister
b)
Attention to details which made his paintings so popular was missing
c)
Instead of resembling, a replica of a deity, the painting looked like a portrait
of the Minister
d)
Since, he was unable to paint the lighting effects properly, the deity did not
look lifelike in the portrait
13.
What was Abhiram’s first reaction when, he heard about the appointment of the
new Royal Minister?
a)
He decided not to sell his paintings at the chariot pageant
b)
He stopped praying because he believed that God had abandoned him
c)
He gave up his carrer as an artist
d)
None of these
14.
Choose the word which is most nearly the same in meaning as the word given in
bold as used in the passage.
Audacity
a)
Courage b) Fear c) Insult
d)
Rudeness
15.
Choose the word which is most nearly the same in meaning as the word given in
bold as used in the passage.
Idea
a)
Image b) Understanding c) Design
d)
Plan
16.
Choose the word, which is most opposite in meaning of the word given in bold as
used in the passage.
Gain
a)
Lose b) Decrease c) Lack
d)
Fail
17.
Choose the word, which is most opposite in meaning of the word given in bold as
used in the passage.
Dogged
a)
Polite b) Weak c) Unstable
d)
Soft
ANSWERS:
1. Option D
2. Option D
3. Option D
4. Option D
5. Option D
6. Option D
7. Option B
8. Option B
9. Option D
10. Option D
11. Option D
12. Option C
13. Option D
14. Option A
15. Option B
16. Option A
17.
Option B
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