Poetry of Dr. Shankar D Mishra: TOTAL ENGLISH: COMPREHENSION PASSAGE/PRECIS, STD. 9, 2026

AN APPROACH TO COMPREHENSION

The main objective of learning English is to understand the language. The comprehension exercises are a test of our understanding. A comprehension exercise consists of a passage on which questions are set to test a pupil's ability to understand the content of a given text and to infer information and meanings from it.

Here are a few points to be kept in mind while attempting a comprehension exercise:

*Read the passage quickly once to get a general idea of the theme. When you do this, do not be preoccupied with answering particular questions.

*Read the passage again slowly and carefully, so as to know the details. If you come across a word you don't know, try to work out its meaning through the context.

*After reading the questions, read the passage again. Look at the questions and work out mentally the location in the passage where the information required for each answer lies. Do not start writing immediately. The most useful work is done while you make yourself familiar with the passage and the questions.

*Make sure that you understand the questions. Rephrase the questions in simple terms. Often students just glance through the questions without trying to understand their implication. Consequently, they fail to give complete answers to the questions.

*Make sure what you write is relevant. Answer to the point and then stop. Refer back to the question to make sure that your answer contains the information that is asked for and nothing more.

*Use your own words as far as possible. However, it may not be always possible to use completely different words when technical terms are involved or words used in the passage are simple enough. But, as far as possible, use your own words and structures. The purpose of setting a comprehension exercise is to find out whether a student understands the passage or not. If you merely copy the exact set of words from the passage you do not show that you have understood the passage.

*Keep to the facts given in the passage. You may have a lot of information from various sources on the theme of the passage. Your answer must be based on the facts given in the passage, unless you are directed to give information which is not given in the passage, like giving your opinion, arguments, etc. To emphasise once again, the purpose of the comprehension exercises is to show that you have understood the given passage and not to show how much you know about the theme from other sources.

*Answer in complete sentences unless you are told not to do so. Sometimes, you could present the information in a single word, but you are required to express yourself clearly in good English, that is, in a complete sentence.

*Answer in the same tense as that of the question, e.g

What does he see? He sees……..

What did he see? - He saw………

*When you have written your answer you should always refer back to the question and check whether your answer is relevant and complete in all aspects.

Comprehension Passage: 1

The suggestions given at the end of the following comprehension exercise should serve as guidelines while answering such questions.

Read the following passage carefully and then answer in your own words the questions that follow Before reading the suggested answers given at the end of the exercise, you should answer the questions yourself. Then compare your response with the suggested answers.

A commission of five, with Dr Walter Reed at its head, was appointed in 1900, in order to discover the cause of yellow fever. The commission was of the opinion that the mosquito theory could only be tested by actual experiment upon a human subject. Because of this opinion, one of the members of the commission Dr Lazear permitted himself to be bitten by a mosquito which had previously bitten a person suffering from yellow fever, with the result that he contracted the disease and died in a few days. He sacrificed his life for others and his devotion to his cause is recorded on a tablet created to his memory which reads: "With more than the courage and devotion of the soldier, he risked and lost his life to show how a fearful pestilence is communicated and how its ravages may be prevented."

Later, two soldiers also volunteered their services for experimental purposes, though they knew the probable consequences of their decision. When both made it a stipulation that they should receive no pecuniary reward, Dr Reed touched his cap and said respectfully, "Gentlemen, I salute you. For one of the first experiments three brave men slept for twenty nights in a small ill-ventilated room screened from mosquitoes but containing furniture and clothing which had been in close contact with yellow fever patients. None of them contracted yellow fever. This proved that the disease was not contagious. In the next experiment, a room was divided by a wire screen, and mosquitoes which had bitten yellow fever patients were allowed to enter into the room only on one side of the screen. John J. Moran, one of the soldiers, entered this section for a few minutes 20 and allowed these mosquitoes to bite him. He had an attack of yellow fever, while three soldiers on the other side, safe from mosquito bites, remained perfectly healthy. Then it was proved beyond doubt that the scourge of the tropics was conveyed by the agency of a mosquito.

The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine deputed in the same year Dr H.E. Durham and Dr Walter Myers to make a detailed study of yellow fever. Both decided to take the risks and do the work assigned to them. Myers died after contracting the disease, becoming a victim to his love of science and humanity. His death added another name to the roll of martyrs to scientific investigation. His courage and unselfish spirit led him to accept the invitation to take part in a most dangerous expedition, and he died that others might live.

One practical result of the discovery of the cause of yellow fever was that it made possible the construction of the Panama Canal, which had been abandoned as hopeless. It was not a hostile army or political difficulties that obstructed the progress of the work, not a mountain chain or desert waste, but an insect which raised a barrier of disease and death between endeavour and accomplishment.

Glossary

· Commission: a group appointed for a specific task / आयोग, समिति

· Yellow Fever: a serious infectious disease / पीत ज्वर

· Mosquito Theory: idea that mosquitoes spread disease / मच्छर द्वारा रोग फैलने का सिद्धांत

· Experiment: scientific test / प्रयोग

· Contracted (a disease): became infected with / रोग से ग्रस्त होना

· Sacrificed: gave up one's life or interests for others / बलिदान दिया

· Devotion: deep dedication / समर्पण

· Pestilence: deadly epidemic disease / महामारी

· Communicated: transmitted, spread / फैलाया गया, संचारित

· Ravages: destructive effects / विनाशकारी प्रभाव

· Volunteer: offer oneself willingly / स्वेच्छा से सेवा देना

· Probable: likely to happen / संभावित

· Consequences: results or effects / परिणाम

· Stipulation: condition or requirement / शर्त

· Pecuniary: relating to money / धन संबंधी

· Salute: show respect or honour / सम्मान प्रकट करना

· Ill-ventilated: lacking fresh air / खराब हवादार

· Contagious: capable of spreading by contact / संक्रामक

· Divided: separated into parts / विभाजित

· Scourge: cause of great suffering / अभिशाप, विपत्ति

· Tropics: hot regions near the equator / उष्णकटिबंधीय क्षेत्र

· Conveyed: carried or transmitted / पहुँचाया गया, प्रसारित

· Agency: means or instrument / माध्यम

· Deputed: appointed to represent or perform a task / नियुक्त किया

· Detailed: thorough and complete / विस्तृत

· Contracting: becoming infected with / रोग से संक्रमित होना

· Victim: person harmed or killed / शिकार, पीड़ित

· Humanity: concern for human welfare / मानवता

· Martyrs: people who die for a cause / शहीद

· Scientific Investigation: scientific research / वैज्ञानिक अनुसंधान

· Unselfish: putting others before oneself / निस्वार्थ

· Expedition: journey undertaken for a purpose / अभियान

· Practical Result: useful outcome / व्यावहारिक परिणाम

· Construction: building process / निर्माण

· Abandoned: given up / त्याग दिया गया

· Hostile: unfriendly or opposing / शत्रुतापूर्ण

· Obstructed: blocked or hindered / बाधित किया

· Endeavour: serious effort / प्रयास

· Accomplishment: successful achievement / उपलब्धि

Summary of the Passage

1. Formation of the Commission

In 1900, a commission led by Dr Walter Reed was appointed to discover the cause of yellow fever. The members believed that the mosquito theory could only be proved through human experiments.

2. Sacrifice of Dr Lazear

Dr Lazear allowed an infected mosquito to bite him. He contracted yellow fever and died. His sacrifice became an example of courage and dedication to science.

3. Experiments by Volunteers

Two soldiers volunteered for further experiments without accepting any monetary reward. Their bravery was publicly praised by Dr Reed.

4. Proof that Yellow Fever Was Not Contagious

In one experiment, three men stayed in a room containing clothing and furniture used by yellow fever patients. None became ill, proving that the disease was not spread through contact with infected objects.

5. Proof of Mosquito Transmission

In another experiment, mosquitoes that had bitten yellow fever patients were allowed into one side of a screened room. John J. Moran was bitten and developed yellow fever, while others protected from mosquito bites remained healthy. This conclusively proved that mosquitoes transmitted the disease.

6. Further Scientific Sacrifices

The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine sent Dr H.E. Durham and Dr Walter Myers to study yellow fever. Myers contracted the disease and died, becoming another martyr in the cause of scientific research and humanity.

7. Importance of the Discovery

The discovery of the cause of yellow fever removed a major obstacle to the construction of the Panama Canal. An insect, rather than political or geographical difficulties, had been the real barrier to progress.

Central Idea

The passage highlights the courage and self-sacrifice of scientists and volunteers who risked and lost their lives to prove that yellow fever was spread by mosquitoes. Their discovery saved countless lives and made important achievements, such as the construction of the Panama Canal, possible.

(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided. [2]

1. contracted (line 6)

(a) got afflicted with (disease) (b) shrunk (c) made a contract (d) promised

2. pecuniary (line 13) (a) honourable (b) monetary (c) momentary (d) governmental

(ii) Which word, in the passage, means the opposite of the word ‘prohibited’? [1]

(a) tested (b) permitted (c) volunteered (d) contracted

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

(a) Briefly explain "the mosquito theory" [2]

(b) According to the passage, who died in the process of proving the truth of the theory? [1]

(d) How did the commission prove that the disease was not contagious? [2]

(e) What is meant by "martyrs to scientific investigation"? Why are Dr Lazear and Dr Myers described as "martyrs to scientific investigation"? [2]

(iv) In not more than 50 words, state how the cause of yellow fever was discovered. [8]

SUGGESTED ANSWERS

Question (i)

(i) 1. (a) 2. (b)

Question (ii)

(ii) (b)

Question (iii)

(a) According to the "mosquito theory," a person can contract yellow fever by being bitten by a mosquito which had previously bitten a person suffering from yellow fever.

(b) Dr Lazear contracted yellow fever and died within a few days.

(c) Dr Reed said, "Gentlemen, I salute you" for the two soldiers who volunteered their services for experimental purposes. He said so because of the exemplary behaviour of the two soldiers, who volunteered for the experiment knowing fully the consequences of their decision.

(d) The commission proved that the disease was not contagious by conducting an experiment in which three men slept in an ill-ventilated room for 20 nights screened from mosquitoes but containing furniture and clothing, which had been in close contact with yellow fever patients. None of these three men contracted yellow fever.

(e) Martyrs to scientific investigation refers to the people, who lay down their lives willingly for the cause of science. Dr Lazear and Dr Myers are described as "martyrs to scientific investigation" because they risked their lives to discover the cause of yellow fever and both of them died after contracting the disease.

[Note the use of tenses in this answer]

Question (iii)

Ans. Precis of the above passage

Comprehension Passage: 2

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

He always stands there-and has stood these thirty years in the back part of his shop, his tape woven about his neck, a smile of welcome on his face, waiting to greet me. "Something in a serge," he says, "or perhaps in a tweed?"

There are only these two choices open to us serge and tweed. We have had no others for thirty years. It is too late to alter now

"A serge, yes," continues my tailor, "something in a dark blue, perhaps." He says it with all the gusto of a new idea, as if the thought of dark blue had sprung up as an inspiration

"Would that make up well?" I ask him. "Admirably," he answers.

I have no real reason to doubt it. I have never seen any reason why cloth should not 10 make up well. But I always ask the question as I know that he expects it and it pleases him. There ought to be a fair give and take in such things.

"Yes," my tailor goes on-he uses "yes" without any special meaning "and shall we say a week from Tuesday? Mr Jennings (his assistant), a week from Tuesday, please."

"And will you please," I say, "send the bill to?" But my tailor waves this aside. He does not care to talk about the bill. It would only give pain to both of us to speak of it.

The bill is a matter we deal with solely by correspondence and that only in a decorous and refined style never calculated to hurt.

Then we move together towards the front of the store on the way to the outer door

"Nothing today, I suppose," says my tailor, "in shirtings?"

"No, thank you."

This is again a mere form. In thirty years I have never bought any shirtings from him. Yet he asks the question with the same winsomeness as he did thirty years ago.

Thus we walk to the door, in friendly colloquy Somehow if he failed to speak of shirtings I should feel as if a familiar cord had broken,

"Good afternoon," he says. "A week from Tuesday-yes-good afternoon"

Such is-or was-our calm unsullied intercourse, unvaried or at least broken only by consignments from Europe.

And then, coming to the familiar door, for my customary summer suit, I found that he was there no more. There were people in the store, and they told me that he was dead. 3 It came to me with a strange shock. I had not thought it possible. He seemed-he should have been immortal.

They said the worry of his business had helped to kill him. I could not have believed it. It always seemed so still and tranquil-weaving his tape about his neck and marking measures for years. His wife, they told me, would be left badly off. I had never conceived him as having a wife. But it seemed that he had, and a daughter, too, at a conservatory of music-yet he never spoke of her and that he himself was musical and played the flute, and was the sidesman of a church.

As I went out, I seemed to hear his voice still saying, "And nothing today in shirtings?"

I was sorry I had never bought any.

Glossary

· Serge: a strong woollen fabric / सर्ज, एक मजबूत ऊनी कपड़ा

· Tweed: a rough woollen cloth / ट्वीड, खुरदरा ऊनी कपड़ा

· Gusto: enthusiasm, eagerness / उत्साह, जोश

· Inspiration: a sudden good idea / प्रेरणा

· Admirably: excellently, very well / उत्कृष्ट रूप से

· Alter: to change / बदलना

· Decorous: proper and respectable / शिष्ट, मर्यादित

· Correspondence: communication by letters / पत्राचार

· Refined: cultured and polite / सुसंस्कृत, सभ्य

· Calculated: intended or designed / उद्देश्यपूर्ण, नियोजित

· Shirtings: cloth for making shirts / कमीज़ बनाने का कपड़ा

· Winsomeness: pleasant charm / आकर्षक सौम्यता

· Colloquy: conversation / बातचीत

· Unsullied: pure, unspoiled / निष्कलंक, निर्मल

· Intercourse: communication or interaction / मेल-जोल, संपर्क

· Consignments: shipments of goods / माल की खेप

· Customary: usual, habitual / प्रथागत, सामान्य

· Immortal: living forever / अमर

· Tranquil: calm and peaceful / शांत, स्थिर

· Conceived: imagined, thought of / कल्पना की, सोचा

· Conservatory: school of music / संगीत विद्यालय

· Sidesman: a church assistant / चर्च का सहायक अधिकारी

· Worry: anxiety or concern / चिंता

· Dependable: reliable, trustworthy / भरोसेमंद

· Familiar: well-known, customary / परिचित

· Shock: sudden surprise or distress / आघात, झटका

· Regret: feeling of sorrow for something not done / पछतावा

Summary of the Passage

1. Tailor's Unchanging Routine

For thirty years, the narrator visited the same tailor, who always greeted him warmly and offered the same choices of fabric—serge or tweed.

2. Repeated Conversations

Their conversations followed an identical pattern every time. The tailor suggested dark blue cloth, fixed a delivery date, and politely avoided discussing the bill.

3. Ritual About Shirtings

Whenever the narrator left, the tailor always asked whether he wanted any shirting material. Although the narrator never bought any, the tailor continued asking with the same friendliness.

4. Sense of Stability

The tailor's unchanged habits made him seem permanent and dependable. The narrator felt comforted by this regularity and unconsciously believed that the tailor would always remain the same.

5. Sudden News of Death

One day, when the narrator visited the shop, he learned that the tailor had died. The news shocked him because he had never imagined the tailor could die.

6. Hidden Personal Life

The narrator discovered that the tailor had worries, a wife, a daughter studying music, and personal interests. He realized how little he actually knew about the man.

7. Realization and Regret

The tailor had appeared calm and immortal, but he was an ordinary human being with responsibilities and struggles. As the narrator left, he remembered the tailor's familiar question about shirtings and regretted never buying any.

Central Idea

The passage shows how routine and familiarity can create the illusion that people and relationships will last forever. The tailor's death reminds the narrator that even those who seem permanent are mortal, and that we often know less about people than we think.

(1) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided [2]

1. gusto (line 7)

(a) aversion (b) apathy (c) enthusiasm (d) weariness

2. unsullied (line 27)

(a) faultless (b) stained (c) polluted (d) defiled

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word unconventional? [1]

(a) decorous (b) customary (c) refined (d) winsomeness

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

(a) What does the narrator want to convey when he says, "He always stands there-and has stood these thirty years"? [2]

(b) Why do the narrator and his tailor avoid talking about the bill? [2]

(d) How does the tailor die? [1]

(e) Why does the narrator regret not buying shirtings from this tailor? [2]

(iv) The tailor's unchanging behaviour in the last thirty years created an illusion of permanence in the narrator's mind. Explain how it happened. Answer in not more than fifty words. [8]

Answers

Question 4

(i) 1. (c) 2. (a)

(ii) (b)

(iii) (a) By saying, "He always stands there and has stood these thirty years," the narrator wants to convey that his tailor's posture, routine and behaviour have remained exactly the same for the last three decades. This has given him a sense of familiarity and permanence that makes the tailor seem almost timeless.

(b) The narrator and his tailor avoid talking about the bill because both of them find it awkward and uncomfortable to discuss money as they have known each other for the last thirty years and perhaps do not want to spoil the warm courteous tone of their meetings. Besides, the tailor prefers to deal with the bills only through correspondence.

(c) If the tailor failed to mention shirtings, the narrator would sense a loss of the comforting routine, which had become a part of their relationship.

(d) The stress of his failing business and the subsequent financial strain became too much to bear. He died as a result.

(e) The tailor faithfully ended every meeting by enquiring about the narrator's requirement of shirtings. The narrator refused each time. So after the tailor's death, he felt nostalgic and guilty for not buying shirtings from him.

(iv)

creating | in | the | narrator's | mind

the | illusion |that | he | would

always | remain |and | never |disappear.

Comprehension Passage: 3

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

For many weeks I had been toiling, almost night and day, at a law case that I won triumphantly but a few days previously. In fact, I had been digging away at the law almost without cessation for many years.

Doctor Volney, my friend and physician, had warned me: "If you don't slacken up, Bellford," he said, "you'll go suddenly to pieces. Either your nerves or your brain will give way. Tell me, does a week pass in which you do not read in the papers of a case of aphasia-of some man lost, wandering nameless, with his past and his identity blotted out and all from that little brain clot made by overwork or worry?"

"You need a change or a rest. Better take warning in time," he said.

Next morning, I woke on the incommodious seat of a day coach. I leaned my head 10 against the seat and tried to think. After a long time I said to myself: "I must have a name of some sort." I searched my pockets. Not a card, not a letter, not a paper or monogram could I find. But I found in my coat pocket nearly $3,000 in bills of large denomination. "I must be some one, of course," I repeated to myself. The car was crowded with men. One of them was reading a newspaper. A glance at his newspaper, where my eye met a conspicuous advertisement, assisted me and I said to myself. "My name is Edward Pinkhammer"

In a hotel in New York, I registered my name as "Edward Pinkhammer. As I did so I felt a sense of unlimited freedom, of newly attained possibilities. I was just born into the world. The following few days were as gold and silver. The old fetters-whatever they had been-were stricken from my hands and feet. I went here and there at my own dear will, bound by no limits of space, time or comportment."

One afternoon, as I entered my hotel, a man greeted me with offensive familiarity. "Hello, Bellford!" he cried. "What are you doing in New York?

"You have made a mistake, sir," I said, coldly. "My name is Pinkhammer. You will excuse me." I moved that afternoon to another hotel. In the evening a lady and a gentleman were waiting for me in another room in the hotel.

"Bellford," the man said, "I'm glad to see you again. I warned you, that you were overdoing it. Now, you'll go back with us, and be yourself again in no time. Your name. is Elwyn Bellford. You are a lawyer and suffering from an attack of aphasia, which has 30 caused you to forget your identity. The lady who has just left the room is your wife, Marian. We learned that you were in New York through a telegram sent by a man who said that he had met you in a hotel here, and that you did not recognise him. "I am Doctor Volney, your friend and physician. I came with Mrs. Bellford to trace you as soon as we got the telegram"

"You say you are a physician. Is aphasia curable? When a man loses his memory does it return slowly, or suddenly?" I asked.

"Sometimes gradually and imperfectly, sometimes as suddenly as it went."

"Then you will consider that I am your patient. Everything is in confidence now-professional confidence," said I

"Of course," said Doctor Volney.

"It will be best" I said, "to have this cure happen suddenly. I am rather tired of it all, anyway. You may go now and bring Marian in. But, oh, Doc." I said, with a sigh, "good old Doctor-it was glorious!"

Glossary

Toiling: working very hard / कठिन परिश्रम करना
Triumphantly: successfully, victoriously / विजयी रूप से, सफलतापूर्वक
Cessation: stoppage, interruption / विराम, रुकावट
Slacken up: reduce effort, slow down / काम की गति कम करना, ढील देना
Aphasia: loss of memory or language ability due to a brain disorder / मस्तिष्क विकार के कारण स्मृति या भाषा-क्षमता का ह्रास
Wandering: moving about without direction / भटकना
Blotted out: erased completely / पूरी तरह मिट जाना
Incommodious: uncomfortable, inconvenient / असुविधाजनक
Conspicuous: easily noticed, prominent / स्पष्ट दिखाई देने वाला, प्रमुख
Assisted: helped / सहायता की
Denomination: value of a currency note / मुद्रा का मूल्यवर्ग
Registered: entered officially in a record / पंजीकृत किया
Attained: achieved, gained / प्राप्त किया
Possibilities: opportunities, chances / संभावनाएँ
Fetters: chains, restrictions / बेड़ियाँ, बंधन
Stricken: removed, struck away / हटाया गया, दूर किया गया
Comportment: behaviour, conduct / आचरण, व्यवहार
Offensive Familiarity: unwelcome over-friendliness / अनुचित घनिष्ठता
Excuse me: pardon me / क्षमा कीजिए
Trace: locate, find / पता लगाना
Telegram: message sent electronically over long distances / तार-संदेश
Curable: capable of being cured / उपचार योग्य
Gradually: slowly, little by little / धीरे-धीरे
Imperfectly: incompletely / अपूर्ण रूप से
Professional Confidence: confidentiality between doctor and patient / चिकित्सकीय गोपनीयता
Sigh: a deep breath expressing relief, sadness, or emotion / आह भरना
Glorious: delightful, wonderful / अत्यंत आनंददायक, शानदार
Identity: a person's sense of who they are / पहचान
Physician: doctor / चिकित्सक
Overdoing: working or acting excessively / आवश्यकता से अधिक करना

· Unlimited Freedom: complete freedom without restrictions / असीमित स्वतंत्रता

Summary of the Passage

1. Bellford's Overwork

Elwyn Bellford, a lawyer, had been working continuously on legal cases for many years.

He had recently won an important case after weeks of intense effort.

2. Doctor Volney's Warning

Doctor Volney warned Bellford that excessive work could damage his nerves or brain.

He advised him to take rest before suffering a breakdown.

3. Loss of Identity

The next morning Bellford woke up on a train and discovered he could not remember who he was.

He found money in his pocket but no clue about his identity.

4. Creation of a New Identity

After seeing the name "Edward Pinkhammer" in a newspaper advertisement, he adopted it as his own.

He registered at a New York hotel under that name.

5. Enjoyment of Freedom

Free from responsibilities and obligations, he felt as though he had been born again.

He enjoyed several carefree and happy days in New York.

6. Recognition by Acquaintances

A man recognised him as Bellford, but he denied knowing him.

Later, Doctor Volney and Bellford's wife Marian found him.

7. Explanation of His Condition

Doctor Volney explained that Bellford was suffering from aphasia, which had caused memory loss.

They had traced him through a telegram sent by someone who had recognised him.

8. Bellford's Response

Bellford asked whether aphasia could be cured and how memory usually returned.

He preferred that his recovery appear sudden.

9. Conclusion

Before regaining his identity, Bellford admitted to Doctor Volney that the experience of freedom had been "glorious."

Central Idea

The passage highlights the dangers of excessive work and mental strain. It also explores a man's temporary loss of identity, which unexpectedly gives him freedom from responsibilities and allows him to experience a carefree life before returning to his normal existence.

Question (i)

1. slacken (line 4) → (d) slow down

2. blotted (line 7) → (a) wiped

Question (ii)

(b) conspicuous

(Concealed = hidden; Conspicuous = clearly visible, noticeable)

Question (iii)

(a) Why does Doctor Volney warn Bellford that he needs to 'slacken up'? [2]

Doctor Volney warns Bellford to slacken up because he has been overworking for many years without proper rest. The doctor fears that excessive work may cause a nervous breakdown or damage his brain.

(b) What example does Doctor Volney provide to illustrate the harmful effects of overwork and excessive worry? [2]

Doctor Volney refers to cases reported in newspapers of people suffering from aphasia. Such people lose their memory and identity and wander about namelessly because of brain disorders caused by overwork or worry.

(c) What does the narrator realise when he wakes up in the day coach the next morning? [1]

When the narrator wakes up in the day coach, he realises that he cannot remember who he is or anything about his identity.

(d) Why does the narrator refer to his days in New York as 'glorious'? [2]

The narrator calls his days in New York 'glorious' because he felt completely free from responsibilities, restrictions and obligations. Living under a new identity allowed him to enjoy life without any worries.

(e) Why does the narrator tell his doctor, "Everything is in confidence now-professional confidence"? [2]

The narrator says this because he wants to speak freely to Doctor Volney as his patient. He expects the doctor to keep their conversation confidential and not reveal it to others, including his wife.

(iv) Answer in not more than 50 words

Comprehension Passage: 4

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Cinnamon with its warm flavour and enticing fragrance has also been known for medicinal and preservative properties since time immemorial. It was the driving force for history, commerce, trade and exploitation of Sri Lanka where it grows naturally.

In the first millennium BCE, Arab traders monopolised cinnamon trade. They spun elaborate tales to keep Europeans from finding out their source They claimed that there were giant birds who gathered these bits of bark (cinnamon) from unknown trees, and built nests with them. The traders left huge chunks of meat for the birds to carry away When the nests cracked under the weight of the meat, the cinnamon supposedly rained down to the ground. Other tales told of cinnamon that came from marshes protected by giant bats or winged serpents. However, by the 14th century, travelling scholars such as Ibn Battuta of Morocco were making their way around the world, replacing myths with first-hand accounts.

Cinnamon, used in perfumes, medicines and elaborate feasts, became a status symbol among the Roman elite. Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder, noted that, cinnamon was so expensive that a pound of it cost the equivalent of five month wages for a Roman labourer

By the 16th century, European Trading companies knew exactly where to look for cinnamon: Sri Lanka's forests, where cinnamon trees grew in the wild. In 1517, fleets carrying Portuguese merchants and soldiers began to arrive in the island. At this point, the right to collect and trade in this spice was vested with the local king. The act of obtaining cinnamon was exclusively done by the Salagama community. They peeled 2 cinnamon as a royal duty, in return for the land they lived off and farmed on.

The process of obtaining cinnamon is complicated and arduous. The outer bark of the tree is peeled exposing the inner bark which is peeled by hand using a knife. This naturally curls into cinnamon quills when it dries.

Upon their arrival, the Portuguese East India Company, set up trading stations and secured exclusive rights to buy and sell the spice. By the mid-17th century, the Dutch East India Company ousted the Portuguese to establish a monopoly over the cinnamon trade. They forced the Salagama to work longer hours and even children were involved in the peeling. Hundreds of cinnamon trees were felled in a single season.

People from the Salagama community found themselves trapped. When they 30 and fined. The attempted to flee the Dutch-administered districts, they were flogged and Dutch even issued decrees to prevent members of the Salagama community from marrying into other communities, in an attempt to keep them from changing their caste and moving away from cinnamon peeling

In the first half of the 18th century alone, the Salagama community delivered almost 16,000 tonnes of the spice, giving the Dutch a global monopoly In fact the Dutch East India Company's profits made it possible for the tiny nation of the Netherlands to run an empire that stretched all the way to Indonesia.

(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided. [2]

1. monopolised (line 4)

(a) cornered (b) controlled (c) dominated (f) consumed

2. arduous (line 22)

(a) easy (b) effortless (c) laborious (d) simple

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word 'repulsive? [1]

(a) enticing (b) elaborate (c) expensive (d) accounts

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words. [2]

(a) List the qualities of cinnamon that made it precious. [2]

(b) How did Arab merchants claim to have obtained the spice? [2]

(d) Describe the process of obtaining cinnamon from trees. [2]

(e) Describe the plight of the Salagama community under the Dutch. [2]

(iv) How did Europeans establish a monopoly over cinnamon trade? Answer in not more than fifty words. [8]

Glossary

Enticing : attractive, tempting / आकर्षक, लुभावना
Fragrance : pleasant smell / सुगंध
Medicinal : relating to medicine / औषधीय
Preservative : substance preventing decay / संरक्षक पदार्थ
Time immemorial : from a very long time ago / अनादि काल से
Monopolised : controlled exclusively / एकाधिकार स्थापित किया
Elaborate : detailed and complicated / विस्तृत, जटिल
Claimed : stated as true / दावा किया
Supposedly : according to belief or claim / कथित रूप से
Marshes : wet swampy land / दलदली क्षेत्र
Scholars : learned persons / विद्वान
Myths : traditional stories or legends / मिथक
Accounts : reports or descriptions / विवरण
Perfumes : fragrant liquids / इत्र
Elite : wealthy and powerful group / अभिजात वर्ग
Equivalent : equal in value / समतुल्य
Vested : officially granted / निहित
Exclusively : only, solely / केवल
Arduous : difficult and laborious / कठिन, श्रमसाध्य
Exposing : uncovering / उजागर करना
Quills : rolled sticks of cinnamon bark / दालचीनी की लपेटी हुई छाल
Secured : obtained firmly / प्राप्त किया
Exclusive rights : sole authority / विशेष अधिकार
Ousted : removed from power / सत्ता से हटाया
Monopoly : exclusive control of trade / एकाधिकार
Felled : cut down / काट गिराया
Trapped : unable to escape / फँसा हुआ
Fled : escaped / भाग गए
Administered : governed or managed / प्रशासित
Flogged : whipped as punishment / कोड़े लगाए गए
Fined : punished by payment of money / जुर्माना लगाया गया
Decrees : official orders / आधिकारिक आदेश
Prevent : stop from happening / रोकना
Community : group of people / समुदाय
Caste : social class / जाति
Delivered : supplied / पहुँचाया
Profits : financial gains / लाभ
Empire : group of territories ruled by one power / साम्राज्य

Summary

Cinnamon is valued for its flavour, fragrance, medicinal, and preservative qualities.
It played an important role in history, commerce, and trade, especially in Sri Lanka.
Arab traders monopolised the cinnamon trade during the first millennium BCE.
They spread imaginative stories about giant birds and serpents to hide the true source of cinnamon.
Travellers like Ibn Battuta later replaced these myths with factual accounts.
Cinnamon became a luxury item and status symbol among wealthy Romans because of its high price.
Sri Lanka's forests were the natural source of cinnamon.
The Salagama community traditionally collected cinnamon as a duty to the king.
Obtaining cinnamon was a difficult and labour-intensive process involving the peeling of the inner bark.
The Portuguese gained control of the cinnamon trade in the 16th century.
The Dutch later expelled the Portuguese and established a monopoly over the trade.
The Dutch exploited the Salagama community by forcing them to work longer hours and involving children in the work.
Workers who attempted to escape faced harsh punishments such as flogging and fines.
The Dutch also restricted marriages to prevent the Salagama people from leaving the profession.
Massive cinnamon production brought huge profits to the Dutch and helped build their overseas empire.

Central Idea

The passage highlights the historical importance of cinnamon, the myths and monopolies associated with its trade, and the severe exploitation of Sri Lanka's Salagama community by European colonial powers in their quest for wealth and control.

(i) Choose the correct meaning of the words

1. monopolised (line 4)
(b) controlled

2. arduous (line 22)
(c) laborious

(ii) Opposite of the word "repulsive"

(a) enticing

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly.

(a) List the qualities of cinnamon that made it precious.

Cinnamon was precious because of its warm flavour, enticing fragrance, and its medicinal and preservative properties.

(b) How did Arab merchants claim to have obtained the spice?

Arab merchants claimed that giant birds collected cinnamon bark from unknown trees and built nests with it. When the nests broke under the weight of meat left by traders, the cinnamon fell to the ground.

(c) Why was cinnamon a status symbol for the Romans?

Cinnamon was a status symbol because it was extremely expensive and affordable only to wealthy Romans.

(d) Describe the process of obtaining cinnamon from trees.

The outer bark of the cinnamon tree is first removed. The inner bark is then carefully peeled by hand with a knife. As it dries, the bark naturally curls into cinnamon quills.

(e) Describe the plight of the Salagama community under the Dutch.

The Dutch forced the Salagama people to work longer hours and even involved children in peeling cinnamon. Those who tried to escape were flogged and fined, and restrictions were imposed on their marriages to prevent them from leaving the profession.

(iv) Précis (50 words)

Comprehension Passage: 5

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

It has long been vaguely understood that the condition of a man's clothes has a certain effect upon the health of both body and mind. The well-known proverb, "Clothes make the man has its origin in a general recognition of the powerful influence of the habiliments in their reaction upon the wearer. The same truth may be observed in the facts of everyday life. On the one hand we remark the bold carriage and mental vigour of a man attired in a new suit of clothes, on the other hand, we note the melancholy features of him who is conscious of a posterior patch, or the haunted face of one suffering from internal loss of buttons. The numerous diseases which are caused by this fatal influence should receive a scientific analysis, and their treatment be included among the principles of the healing art.

Probably no article of apparel is so liable to a diseased condition as the trousers.

Trousers experience an extremely painful malady most frequently found in the growing youth. The first symptom is the appearance of a lacuna, a yawning space above the boots, accompanied by an acute sense of humiliation and a morbid anticipation of mockery. The use of boots reaching to the knees, to be removed only at night, will afford immediate relief.

The overcoat is attacked by no serious disorders, except Glistening, a malady which indeed may often be observed to affect the whole system. It is caused by decay of tissue from old age and is generally aggravated by repeated brushing. A peculiar feature of the complaint is the lack of veracity on the part of the patient in reference to the cause of his uneasiness.

Of the waistcoat, science recognises but one disease-an affliction caused by repeated spilling of porridge. It is generally harmless, chiefly owing to the mental indifference of the patient. It can be successfully treated by repeated fomentations of benzine.

Loss of Fur is a disease of the hat, especially prevalent in winter. It is not accurately known whether this is caused by a falling out of the fur or by a cessation of growth. In all diseases of the hat the mind of the patient is greatly depressed and his countenance stamped with the deepest gloom.

Loss of Buttons, is the commonest malady demanding surgical treatment. It consists of a succession of minor fractures, possibly internal, which at first excite no alarm. A 30 vague sense of uneasiness is presently felt, which often leads the patient to seek relief in the string habit-a habit which, if unduly indulged in, may assume the proportions of a ruling passion. The use of sealing wax, while admirable as a temporary remedy, should never be allowed to gain a permanent hold upon the system.

In conclusion, it may be stated that at the first symptom of disease the patient should not hesitate to put himself in the hands of a professional tailor. In so brief a compass as the present article the discussion has of necessity been rather suggestive than exhaustive Much yet remains to be done, and the subject opens wide to the inquiring eye.

(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided. [2]

1. carriage (Ime 5)

(a) coach (b) stance (c) frame (d) support

2. malady (line 12)

(a) ailment (b) fitness (c) design (d) vigour

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word pleasant? [1]

(a) habiliments (b) fatal (c) morbid (d) veracity

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words. [2]

(a) What does the narrator suggest about the relationship between clothes and diseases? [2]

(b) Explain the first symptom of disease in trousers that is most frequently found in the growing youth. [2]

(d) What disease of the waistcoat does the author describe? Why is it described harmless? [2]

(e) Why does the narrator treat the loss of buttons as a serious surgical case? [2]

(iv) How has the narrator humorously described common clothing problems as serious diseases? Answer in not more than fifty words. [8]

Glossary

Vaguely : not clearly, indistinctly / अस्पष्ट रूप से

Condition : state or situation / अवस्था, स्थिति

Proverb : a short well-known saying / कहावत

Habiliments : clothes, garments / वस्त्र, परिधान

Influence : effect or impact on someone / प्रभाव

Reaction : response or effect produced / प्रतिक्रिया

Wearer : a person who wears something / पहनने वाला

Carriage : manner of walking or holding oneself / चाल-ढाल, व्यक्तित्व

Vigour : physical or mental strength and energy / शक्ति, उत्साह

Attired : dressed or clothed / परिधान पहने हुए

Melancholy : sadness, gloom / उदासी, विषाद

Conscious : aware of something / सचेत, जागरूक

Posterior : rear or back part / पिछला भाग

Haunted : troubled or worried-looking / चिंतित, व्याकुल

Numerous : many in number / अनेक

Fatal : causing serious harm or disaster / घातक

Scientific Analysis : detailed examination based on science / वैज्ञानिक विश्लेषण

Treatment : method of curing a disease / उपचार

Principles : basic rules or ideas / सिद्धांत

Healing Art : the practice of medicine / चिकित्साशास्त्र

Liable : likely or prone to / प्रवृत्त, संभावित

Malady : disease or illness / रोग, बीमारी

Symptom : sign of a disease / लक्षण

Appearance : the way something looks / स्वरूप, दिखाई देना

Lacuna : a gap or empty space / रिक्त स्थान, खाली जगह

Yawning : wide open / खुला हुआ, फैला हुआ

Acute : severe or intense / तीव्र

Humiliation : feeling of shame or embarrassment / अपमान, लज्जा

Morbid : unhealthy or excessive / अस्वस्थ, विकृत

Anticipation : expectation of something / आशा, अपेक्षा

Mockery : ridicule, making fun of someone / उपहास

Afford : provide or give / प्रदान करना

Immediate : instant, without delay / तत्काल

Relief : reduction of pain or distress / राहत

Disorders : illnesses or abnormalities / विकार, रोग

Glistening : shining or sparkling / चमकना

Decay : gradual deterioration / क्षय, सड़न

Tissue : material or structure of a body / ऊतक

Aggravated : made worse / और अधिक गंभीर किया गया

Peculiar : strange or unusual / विचित्र

Complaint : illness or ailment / रोग, शिकायत

Veracity : truthfulness / सत्यता

Uneasiness : discomfort or anxiety / बेचैनी

Waistcoat : a sleeveless upper garment worn under a coat / बनियाननुमा कोट (वेस्टकोट)

Recognises : acknowledges or identifies / पहचानता है, स्वीकार करता है

Affliction : suffering or disease / कष्ट, रोग

Porridge : soft food made by boiling grains / दलिया

Harmless : not dangerous / हानिरहित

Indifference : lack of interest or concern / उदासीनता

Fomentations : applications of warm medicinal substances / सेंक, गर्म औषधीय पट्टी

Benzine : a cleaning solvent / बेंज़ीन (सफाई में प्रयुक्त द्रव)

Fur : soft hair covering of an animal / फर, रोएँ

Prevalent : widespread, common / प्रचलित, व्यापक

Cessation : stopping or ending / समाप्ति, विराम

Countenance : face or facial expression / मुखमुद्रा, चेहरा

Stamped : marked or impressed / अंकित, छपा हुआ

Gloom : sadness, darkness / उदासी, निराशा

Commonest : most common / सबसे सामान्य

Demanding : requiring / आवश्यकता रखने वाला

Surgical : related to surgery / शल्य चिकित्सा संबंधी

Succession : a series following one another / क्रम, श्रृंखला

Fractures : breaks or cracks / फ्रैक्चर, टूट-फूट

Excite : cause or arouse / उत्पन्न करना

Alarm : fear or concern / चिंता, भय

Presently : soon, after a short time / शीघ्र ही

Seek : look for / तलाश करना

Unduly : excessively / अत्यधिक

Indulged : allowed oneself to enjoy excessively / लिप्त होना

Assume : take on or acquire / ग्रहण करना

Proportions : extent or size / सीमा, परिमाण

Ruling Passion : dominant obsession or interest / प्रमुख आसक्ति

Sealing Wax : wax used for sealing letters or objects / मुहर लगाने का मोम

Admirable : worthy of praise / प्रशंसनीय

Temporary : lasting for a short time / अस्थायी

Remedy : cure or treatment / उपाय, उपचार

Permanent : lasting forever or for a long time / स्थायी

Professional : skilled and qualified person / पेशेवर

Tailor : a person who makes or alters clothes / दर्जी

Compass : scope or limit / सीमा, दायरा

Discussion : detailed consideration of a subject / चर्चा

Necessity : unavoidable need / आवश्यकता

Suggestive : giving ideas rather than complete information / संकेतात्मक

Exhaustive : complete and thorough / विस्तृत, पूर्ण

Inquiring : curious, eager to learn / जिज्ञासु

Opens Wide : offers great opportunity for study / व्यापक अवसर प्रदान करना

Summary

1. The passage humorously presents clothing problems as if they were medical diseases affecting a person's physical and mental well-being.

2. It suggests that clothes have a strong influence on a person's confidence, mood, and appearance.

3. A person wearing new clothes appears energetic and confident, while one wearing damaged clothes often feels embarrassed and unhappy.

4. The author argues that clothing-related troubles deserve scientific study and treatment.

5. Trousers are described as being particularly prone to a disease in growing youths, marked by a gap between the trousers and boots.

6. The suggested cure for this trouser disease is wearing long boots reaching the knees.

7. Overcoats mainly suffer from a condition called "Glistening," caused by ageing and excessive brushing.

8. Patients affected by this disorder often hide the true cause of the problem.

9. Waistcoats are said to suffer from stains caused by spilled porridge, but this disease is generally harmless.

10. The recommended treatment for the waistcoat's condition is repeated cleaning with benzine.

11. Hats commonly suffer from "Loss of Fur," especially during winter, causing great distress to the owner.

12. The most common clothing disease is "Loss of Buttons," which leads people to use strings as a temporary substitute.

13. The author warns against becoming dependent on temporary remedies such as sealing wax.

14. He advises people to consult a professional tailor as soon as signs of clothing disease appear.

15. The essay concludes by stating that the subject has not been fully explored and offers wide scope for further study.

Central Idea

The passage is a humorous satire that treats defects and wear-and-tear in clothing as medical diseases. Through witty descriptions, the author highlights how the condition of a person's clothes can significantly influence confidence, emotions, and social appearance, while playfully suggesting that tailors act as doctors for such ailments.

(i) Choose the correct meaning of the words as used in the passage. [2]

1. Carriage (line 5) – (b) stance

2. Malady (line 12) – (a) ailment

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word pleasant? [1]

(c) morbid

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

(a) What does the narrator suggest about the relationship between clothes and diseases? [2]
The narrator humorously suggests that the condition of a person's clothes greatly affects his physical and mental well-being. He treats defects in clothing as diseases that require proper diagnosis and treatment.

(b) Explain the first symptom of disease in trousers that is most frequently found in the growing youth. [2]
The first symptom is the appearance of a gap between the lower end of the trousers and the boots because the youngster has grown taller. This causes embarrassment and fear of being mocked by others.

(c) What relief is suggested for the disease that affects the trousers of youngsters? [1]
The author suggests wearing boots that reach up to the knees and removing them only at night.

(d) What disease of the waistcoat does the author describe? Why is it described harmless? [2]
The disease of the waistcoat is the staining caused by repeatedly spilling porridge on it. It is considered harmless because the wearer usually remains unconcerned and pays little attention to it.

(e) Why does the narrator treat the loss of buttons as a serious surgical case? [2]
The narrator treats the loss of buttons as a serious surgical case because it involves a series of small "fractures" that gradually create discomfort. The problem often forces the wearer to use strings as substitutes, making the condition appear serious and in need of treatment.

iv. The 50-word précis of the passage:

Comprehension Passage: 6

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

"Kindness," argued Mrs Pennycoop, "costs nothing." Mr Pennycoop, an auctioneer of ears' experience, who had enjoyed much opportunity of testing the aptitude of the public towards sentiment, retorts that kindness "is valued precisely at cost price."

Although the vicar is unpopular, Mrs Pennycoop feels that courtesy dictates calling upon him before he goes. Mr Pennycoop views the vicar's tenure with disdain, noting that in his three years he has managed to alienate nearly every member of the parish; suggesting an official deputation to the bishop is in motion.

Mrs Pennycoop, in her gentle way, persuades her husband to accompany her to the parsonage. She prepares a carefully crafted speech of goodwill referencing Christian duty, forgiveness, forgetting past grievances, and offering best wishes. Mr Pennycoop reluctantly agrees but insists on speaking only what he feels. The scene at the vicar's house begins awkwardly when the vicar, brusque and cold, asks why they have come. Mrs Pennycoop, galvanised, delivers her speech with increasing earnestness-even though Mr Pennycoop retreats to the door-knob. Over time, the vicar's stern façade falters he becomes unexpectedly moved. Mrs Pennycoop's sincerity reveals to him that at least one parishioner genuinely understood him and held him in regard. The vicar realises that his belief that the congregation disliked him was mistaken.

Word spreads through the parish of the Pennycoops visit. Other parishioners suddenly feel obliged to express their regret and admiration. A flood of callers, carefully rehearsing sentiments, march to the parsonage, each keen to show contrition, respect or affection. The vicar, initially planning a farewell sermon of withering criticism, observes the joyful, buoyant congregation assembled in the church for the last service. He realises that he no longer wishes to depart: the affection is real, and he discards his scathing sermon manuscript. He steps up to deliver a spontaneous apology: acknowledging he misjudged the parish, that he had wrongly believed they harboured dislike, and now sees that the libel lay with him. He asks to remain as their pastor-on one condition: the parish must now provide him a competent, energetic curate, willing for minimal stipend He has such a one 'in his mind's eye', a near relation of his own, who, for a small stipend that was hardly worth it for a fact, accept the post.

Then came an unexpected announcement: a newcomer Mr. Horatio Cooper Smith offers to find the curate entirely out of his own pocket. With this pledge the vicar forgives the planned departure and stays. The penny of kindness thus "cost" far more than Mrs Perycoop's simple gesture the parish winds up committed to financial responsibility under a sober and the neighbours remarking unhappily on the unfolding implications: eg the churchwarden Mr Biles muttering that the curate will be "a curse and a stumbling-block and Mrs Biles vowing to "give Mrs Pennycoop a piece of my mind."

(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided: [2]

1. brusque (line 12)

(a) polite (b) diplomatic (c) courteous (d) rude

2. galvanised (line13)

(a) energised (b) pressurised (c) radicalised (d) criticised

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word impenitence? [1]

(a) withering (b) contrition (c) scathing (d) buoyant

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

(a) The Pennycoops have opposing views on "kindness" What is each's opinion? [2]

(b) Why does Mr Pennycoop view the vicar's tenure with disdain? [2]

(d) What was the effect of Pennycoops' visit to the vicar's house on the other parishioners? [1]

(e) What does the vicar publicly admit during the service? [2]

Glossary

Argued : stated reasons in support of something / तर्क दिया

Retorts : replies sharply or quickly / तीखा उत्तर देना, प्रत्युत्तर देना

Auctioneer : a person who conducts auctions / नीलामीकर्ता

Opportunity : chance or occasion / अवसर

Testing : examining or judging / परखना, परीक्षण करना

Aptitude : natural ability or tendency / योग्यता, प्रवृत्ति

Sentiment : feeling or emotion / भावना

Valued : considered to be worth / मूल्यांकित, महत्त्व दिया गया

Precisely : exactly, accurately / ठीक-ठीक, सटीक रूप से

Courtesy : polite behaviour / शिष्टाचार

Dictates : requires or demands / निर्देश देना, आवश्यक बनाना

Accompany : go somewhere with someone / साथ जाना

Parsonage : the residence of a parish priest or vicar / पादरी का निवास

Tenure : period during which a position is held / कार्यकाल

Disdain : lack of respect, contempt / तिरस्कार

Alienate : cause someone to become unfriendly or distant / दूर कर देना, विमुख करना

Parish : a church district and its members / चर्च क्षेत्र, पेरिश

Official Deputation : a group appointed to represent others / आधिकारिक प्रतिनिधिमंडल

Persuades : convinces someone to do something / मनाना, राज़ी करना

Crafted : carefully prepared / सावधानीपूर्वक तैयार किया गया

Goodwill : friendly feeling and kindness / सद्भावना

Referencing : mentioning or referring to / उल्लेख करना

Forgiveness : willingness to pardon / क्षमा

Grievances : complaints or feelings of injustice / शिकायतें, गिले-शिकवे

Reluctantly : unwillingly / अनिच्छापूर्वक

Insists : firmly demands / ज़ोर देना

Awkwardly : in an uncomfortable manner / असहज ढंग से

Brusque : abrupt and unfriendly / रूखा, कठोर

Galvanised : stimulated into action / प्रेरित, सक्रिय किया गया

Earnestness : sincerity and seriousness / ईमानदारी, गंभीरता

Retreats : moves back or withdraws / पीछे हटना

Stern : strict and serious / कठोर, गंभीर

Façade : outward appearance hiding true feelings / बाहरी रूप, मुखौटा

Falters : weakens or loses confidence / डगमगाना

Unexpectedly : surprisingly / अप्रत्याशित रूप से

Sincerity : honesty and genuineness / सच्चाई, निष्कपटता

Parishioner : a member of a parish / पेरिश का सदस्य

Genuinely : truly, sincerely / वास्तव में, सच्चे रूप से

Regard : respect or esteem / सम्मान

Congregation : people assembled for worship / श्रद्धालुओं का समूह

Mistaken : wrong or incorrect / गलत

Obliged : compelled by duty or courtesy / बाध्य, कर्तव्यवश

Admiration : respect and approval / प्रशंसा

Flood : a large number arriving at once / बाढ़, बड़ी संख्या

Callers : visitors / आगंतुक

Rehearsing : practising beforehand / अभ्यास करना

Contrition : remorse and regret for wrongdoing / पश्चाताप

Affection : fondness and love / स्नेह

Farewell : goodbye on departure / विदाई

Withering : severely critical / कठोर आलोचनात्मक

Buoyant : cheerful and lively / प्रसन्न, उत्साही

Assembled : gathered together / एकत्रित

Discards : throws away or rejects / त्याग देना

Scathing : extremely harsh and critical / तीखी आलोचनात्मक

Manuscript : handwritten or typed document / पांडुलिपि

Spontaneous : unplanned and natural / स्वतःस्फूर्त

Acknowledging : admitting or accepting / स्वीकार करना

Misjudged : formed a wrong opinion about / गलत आकलन किया

Harboured : secretly held or nurtured / मन में रखना

Libel : a false and damaging statement / मानहानि, झूठा आरोप

Pastor : a Christian minister / पादरी

Competent : capable and efficient / सक्षम, योग्य

Energetic : active and enthusiastic / ऊर्जावान

Curate : an assistant priest / सहायक पादरी

Stipend : fixed payment or allowance / मानदेय, भत्ता

Relation : relative, family member / रिश्तेदार

Accept : agree to take or receive / स्वीकार करना

Announcement : public statement / घोषणा

Newcomer : a person who has recently arrived / नवागंतुक

Pledge : a promise or commitment / प्रतिज्ञा, वचन

Forgives : stops feeling resentment / क्षमा करना

Committed : bound to a responsibility / प्रतिबद्ध

Financial Responsibility : duty to provide money / वित्तीय जिम्मेदारी

Sober : serious and sensible / गंभीर, संयमी

Implications : possible effects or consequences / परिणाम, निहितार्थ

Churchwarden : a lay official responsible for church affairs / चर्च प्रबंधक

Muttering : speaking in a low voice / बड़बड़ाना

Curse : something causing trouble or suffering / अभिशाप

Stumbling-block : an obstacle or hindrance / बाधा, रुकावट

Vowing : making a firm promise / शपथ लेना, वचन देना

Give Someone a Piece of My Mind : speak angrily and frankly to someone / खरी-खोटी सुनाना, डाँटना

Summary

1. Mrs Pennycoop believes that kindness costs nothing, while Mr Pennycoop argues that kindness always has a price.

2. Although the vicar is unpopular in the parish, Mrs Pennycoop feels it is their duty to visit him before he leaves.

3. Mr Pennycoop criticizes the vicar, claiming that he has alienated almost all the parishioners during his three-year tenure.

4. Mrs Pennycoop persuades her husband to accompany her to the parsonage and prepares a speech expressing goodwill, forgiveness, and best wishes.

5. At first, the vicar receives them coldly and questions the purpose of their visit.

6. Mrs Pennycoop sincerely delivers her speech, and her genuine kindness deeply touches the vicar.

7. The vicar realizes that at least one parishioner respects and understands him and that he has wrongly judged the parish.

8. News of the Pennycoops' visit spreads throughout the parish.

9. Other parishioners begin visiting the vicar to express regret, admiration, and affection.

10. Seeing the warmth and support of the congregation, the vicar abandons his planned farewell sermon filled with criticism.

11. During his final service, he apologizes for misjudging the parishioners and admits that the fault was his own.

12. The vicar decides to remain as pastor on the condition that the parish provides a competent and energetic curate.

13. He already has a suitable candidate in mind, who happens to be a close relative.

14. Mr. Horatio Cooper Smith unexpectedly offers to pay the curate's expenses from his own pocket.

15. As a result, the vicar stays, and the parish becomes financially responsible for the consequences of this decision.

16. The neighbours begin to regret the situation, fearing that the new curate may create problems for the parish.

17. The story humorously proves that a small act of kindness can sometimes lead to large and unexpected consequences.

Central Idea

The passage humorously illustrates how a simple act of kindness can transform people's attitudes and relationships. Mrs Pennycoop's sincere goodwill changes the vicar's opinion of his parishioners, persuades him to stay, and sets off a chain of unexpected events, showing that kindness often has consequences far beyond its apparent cost.

(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided: [2]

1. brusque (line 12) – (d) rude

2. galvanised (line 13) – (a) energised

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word impenitence? [1]

(b) contrition

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

(a) The Pennycoops have opposing views on "kindness". What is each's opinion? [2]
Mrs Pennycoop believes that kindness costs nothing. Mr Pennycoop, however, argues that kindness is always valued at its cost and therefore never comes without a price.

(b) Why does Mr Pennycoop view the vicar's tenure with disdain? [2]
Mr Pennycoop believes that during his three years in the parish, the vicar has alienated almost every parishioner. Because of his unpopularity, an official complaint to the bishop was even being considered.

(c) How does the vicar treat the Pennycoops when they visit his house? [2]
The vicar initially treats them coldly and rudely. He is brusque in manner and suspicious of their visit, asking them directly why they have come.

(d) What was the effect of the Pennycoops' visit to the vicar's house on the other parishioners? [1]
The visit inspired other parishioners to call on the vicar and express their regret, admiration, and affection towards him.

(e) What does the vicar publicly admit during the service? [2]
The vicar admits that he had wrongly judged the parishioners. He acknowledges that he mistakenly believed they disliked him and accepts that the fault lay with himself rather than with the parish.

(iv) Explain how Mrs Pennycoop's remark that "kindness costs nothing" turned out to be ironic in the events that followed. Answer in not more than fifty words [8]

Precis in 50 words

Comprehension Passage: 7

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Mrs Oreille was a very economical woman, she knew the value of a centime, and possessed a whole storehouse of strict principles with regard to the multiplication of money. It really pained Oreille to see any money spent, it was like tearing at her heartstrings when she had to take any of those nice crown-pieces out of her pocket

Mr Oreille was one of the head clerks in the War Office. For two years he had always come to the office with the same old patched umbrella, to the great amusement of his fellow clerks. After much grumbling she bought him a new umbrella that was also ndiculed, and he insisted on buying a proper silk umbrella costing twenty francs. She bought him one for eighteen francs, but warned him that it should last five years.

Mr Oreille received a small ovation at the office with his new acquisition. When he went home in the evening, his wife became furious when she found a big burn hole as if from a cigar in the umbrella. She mended it with a piece of silk cut out of the old umbrella. The next day Mr Oreille returned with the umbrella covered in small burn marks just as if hot ashes from a lighted pipe had fallen on to it.

"Oh! you brute! You did it on purpose, but I will pay you out for it. You shall not have another."

A dinner guest suggested that they should claim the money from their insurance company, since the policy covered burnt items. Mrs Oreille could not get over the loss of her eighteen francs by any means and decided to claim the money from the insurance company

She went to the office of the insurance company and showed the umbrella to the 20 manager and said, "It cost me twenty francs."

He seemed astonished. "But I really do not understand what it can have to do with me."

"I only want you to have it re-covered," she said.

The Manager said: "But, madame, we do not sell umbrellas, we cannot undertake such kinds of repairs."

"I only want you to pay me the cost of repairing it, I can quite well get it done myself."

"We don't give compensation for the small articles which are every day exposed to the chances of being burned."

"But, last December one of our chimneys caught fire, and caused at least five hundred francs damage, Mr Oreille made no claim on the company."

"It is very surprising that Mr Oreille did not ask for compensation for damages amounting to five hundred francs, and now wants to claim five or six francs for mending an umbrella," he said.

Mrs Oreille replied, "I beg your pardon, the five hundred francs affected Mr Oreille's pocket, whereas this damage, amounting to eighteen francs, concerns my pocket only, which is a totally different matter."

As he saw that he had no chance of getting rid of her, he agreed that the company would pay the cost to re-cover the umbrella in silk if she would produce a bill for that.

Delighted she went to a first-class umbrella shop and said: "I want this umbrella re-covered in silk, good silk. Use the very best and strongest you have; I don't mind what it costs."

(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided. [2]

1. economical (line 1)

(a) thrifty (b) wasteful (c) extravagant (d) prodigal

2. acquisition (line 10)

(a) dispossession (b) procurement (c) loss (d) forfeiture

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word 'wrecking? [1]

(a) tearing (b) costing (c) running (d) mending

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

(a) How does the opening paragraph suggest that Mrs Oreille was a miser? [2]

(b) Why was Mr Oreille ridiculed by his colleagues? [2]

(d) What reply does Mrs Oreille give when the Manager questions her about not asking for damages amounting to five hundred francs but making a claim for mending an umbrella? [2]

(e) What does the Manager finally advise Mrs Oreille and why? [2]

(iv) How does the last line of the passage reveal a surprising shift in Mrs Oreille's behaviour and reflect irony in her otherwise miserly character? Answer in not more than fifty words. [8]

Summary

Mrs Oreille was an extremely economical and miserly woman who disliked spending money.
She believed strongly in saving and felt distressed whenever she had to spend even a small amount.
Mr Oreille, a head clerk in the War Office, used the same patched umbrella for two years.
His colleagues often laughed at him because of his old and worn-out umbrella.
After much persuasion, Mrs Oreille bought him a new umbrella, though she expected it to last for at least five years.
Mr Oreille's new silk umbrella was warmly admired by his colleagues at the office.
When he returned home, Mrs Oreille discovered a large burn hole in the umbrella and became very angry.
She repaired the damage herself using a piece of silk from the old umbrella.
The following day, the umbrella came back with several more burn marks caused by cigar or pipe ashes.
Furious at the repeated damage, Mrs Oreille refused to buy another umbrella.
A dinner guest suggested claiming compensation from the insurance company since the policy covered fire damage.
Unable to accept the loss of her eighteen francs, Mrs Oreille decided to make a claim.
She visited the insurance company's manager and demanded payment for repairing the umbrella.
The manager was surprised because Mr Oreille had never claimed compensation for a previous fire that had caused much greater damage.
Mrs Oreille explained that the earlier loss affected her husband's money, whereas the umbrella loss affected her own money.
Realising that he could not persuade her otherwise, the manager agreed to pay for re-covering the umbrella if she produced the bill.
Delighted by this decision, Mrs Oreille went to a high-quality umbrella shop and ordered the best and strongest silk without worrying about the cost.
The ending humorously reveals the irony that a miserly woman became extravagant when someone else was paying the expense.

Central Idea

The passage humorously portrays the extreme miserliness of Mrs Oreille. Her determination to recover even a small financial loss leads her to seek compensation from an insurance company. The story ends ironically, showing that when others are paying, even the most economical person may become unexpectedly lavish.

(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided. [2]

1. economical (line 1) – (a) thrifty

2. acquisition (line 10) – (b) procurement

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word wrecking? [1]

(d) mending

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

(a) How does the opening paragraph suggest that Mrs Oreille was a miser? [2]
The opening paragraph shows that Mrs Oreille was extremely careful with money. She hated spending even small amounts and felt great pain whenever she had to part with her money.

(b) Why was Mr Oreille ridiculed by his colleagues? [2]
Mr Oreille was ridiculed because he used the same old patched umbrella for two years. His colleagues found the worn-out umbrella amusing and often laughed at him.

(c) What happened to the new umbrella when Mr Oreille brought it back from the office? [1]
When Mr Oreille brought the new umbrella home, it had a large burn hole and several burn marks caused by cigars or pipe ashes.

(d) What reply does Mrs Oreille give when the Manager questions her about not asking for damages amounting to five hundred francs but making a claim for mending an umbrella? [2]
Mrs Oreille replies that the earlier loss of five hundred francs affected her husband's pocket, whereas the loss of eighteen francs for the umbrella affected her own pocket. Therefore, she considered it a completely different matter.

(e) What does the Manager finally advise Mrs Oreille and why? [2]
The Manager finally agrees that the insurance company will pay the cost of re-covering the umbrella in silk if she produces the bill. He does so because he realizes that arguing with her is useless and that he cannot easily get rid of her.

(iv) precis in 50-word Grid Format [8]

Comprehension Passage: 8

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

The 3000 km long Yukon River starts in northwest Canada and flows through all of Alaska before reaching the Bering Sea and the North Pacific. It is home to many different indigenous societies including the Tlingit people, Northern and Southern Tutchone, Han, Yupik and Gwich'in. It is a very complex and rich place culturally.

A key species which makes this river a central place for both people and animals is salmon-these mature in the ocean and migrate upstream to spawn. After they lay eggs, the adult fish perish while the eggs hatch in freshwater, sometimes 3,000 kilometres from the ocean, and the little fish swim back downstream and start this cycle again. This two-way movement of salmon is very important for the whole ecosystem.

When historians write about a river, the history moves in one direction-it follows the way the water takes, travelling downstream, tracking gravity and going into the ocean. In the Yukon watershed, partly because of this salmon migration, we look not just at fish travelling back and forth but their carrying within them an enormous amount of nutrients from the ocean. They bring these back upstream which, in biogeochemical terms, means the salmon are extremely important to the nitrogen cycle in the whole boreal forest in the watershed. The salmon act like a fertilising pulse, moving up and down the river, enriching the entire ecosystem. They also become food for bears, eagles, wolves, lynx and of course, people. So, when the river is healthy, it is really moving in two directions-it is moving water downstream and fish and nutrients upstream. Since the Yukon River empties into the Bering Sea, it supplies the latter with freshwater, nutrients, sediments and organic matter. The Bering Sea is connected to the Arctic Ocean through a narrow waterway called the Bering Strait. As such, water, sea ice, fish and nutrients move between these two water bodies. The river is also connected to the ocean in such a way that clouds form over the Bering Sea and move that water back inland-this becomes rain and snow. So, the Yukon River is almost like a lung which breathes in and out

The Yukon flows through a lot of land with permafrost-that is starting to thaw. This is changing how the river erodes its banks, its depth and turbidity or sediments. In some tributaries, the permafrost thaw is releasing metals-these waters are turning a bright orange because of the high metal content.

There are further impacts of global warming. The Yukon is defined by salmon which are cold-water fish-these are having a very hard time as the waters are now warm. Meanwhile, new species are showing up. Down by the mouth of the Yukon, an area that was historically open tundra with low vegetation-climate change has led to more growth and thickets of willows now bloom instead of the landscape being open. With that, moose are suddenly moving in-further upriver, mountain lions are starting to show up. Locals learnt how to live with bears here - but they are totally startled by mountain lions.

The Yukon still maintains deep ecological integrity to a large degree, despite a century of intensive mining and climate change-it shows how that is related to the choices we make in our own lives. The Yukon's future and ours are intertwined.

i. For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided. [2]

1. indigenous (line 3)

(a) migrant (b) adventurous (c) native (d) imported

2 watershed (line 12)

(a) turning point (b) region rained by a river (c) landmark (d) water divide

ii. Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word 'freeze? [1]

(a) flows (b) mature (c) migrate (d) thaw

iii. Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

(a) Why is the Yukon River home to many communities? [1]

(b) Briefly describe the life-cycle of a salmon. [2]

(d) What is the effect of the thawing permafrost on the Yukon? [2]

(e) How is global warming affecting the salmon population? [2]

iv. How is the Yukon a lung for the Arctic Region? Answer in not more than fifty words. [8]

Glossary

Indigenous : Native; originating in a particular region / मूल निवासी, स्वदेशी

Complex : Complicated; having many interconnected parts / जटिल

Culturally : Related to the customs and traditions of a society / सांस्कृतिक रूप से

Species : A group of similar living organisms / प्रजाति

Migrate : To move from one place to another, often seasonally / प्रवास करना

Upstream : Towards the source of a river / नदी के उद्गम की ओर

Spawn : To lay eggs (especially fish) / अंडे देना

Perish : To die / मर जाना

Freshwater : Water that is not salty / मीठा पानी

Ecosystem : A community of living organisms and their environment / पारितंत्र

Watershed : An area drained by a river and its tributaries / जलग्रहण क्षेत्र

Biogeochemical : Relating to the movement of chemical elements through living organisms and the environment / जैव-भूरासायनिक

Nitrogen Cycle : The natural process by which nitrogen circulates in the environment / नाइट्रोजन चक्र

Boreal Forest : A forest of northern cold regions, mainly consisting of coniferous trees / उत्तरी शीतोष्ण वन

Fertilising : Enriching soil with nutrients to support growth / उर्वर बनाना

Enriching : Improving by adding valuable substances / समृद्ध करना

Nutrients : Substances that provide nourishment for growth and life / पोषक तत्व

Sediments : Particles of sand, soil, or rock carried by water / अवसाद, तलछट

Organic Matter : Material derived from living organisms / कार्बनिक पदार्थ

Waterway : A route through which water flows or is navigated / जलमार्ग

Permafrost : Permanently frozen ground / स्थायी रूप से जमी हुई भूमि

Thaw : To melt after being frozen / पिघलना

Erodes : Gradually wears away / क्षरण करना

Turbidity : The cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles / गंदलापन

Tributaries : Smaller rivers or streams that flow into a larger river / सहायक नदियाँ

Releasing : Letting out or emitting / छोड़ना, मुक्त करना

Global Warming : The gradual increase in Earth's average temperature / वैश्विक तापन

Defined : Characterised or identified by / परिभाषित, विशेषता से युक्त

Tundra : A cold, treeless region with low-growing vegetation / टुंड्रा क्षेत्र

Vegetation : Plant life in a particular area / वनस्पति

Thickets : Dense groups of shrubs or small trees / झाड़ियाँ, घनी झाड़-झंखाड़

Historically : Related to past events or history / ऐतिहासिक रूप से

Startled : Suddenly surprised or shocked / चकित, आश्चर्यचकित

Ecological Integrity : The ability of an ecosystem to maintain its natural structure and functions / पारिस्थितिक अखंडता

Intensive : Involving a high level of effort or activity / गहन, तीव्र

Intertwined : Closely connected with one another / परस्पर जुड़ा हुआ

Summary

1. The Yukon River is about 3,000 km long and flows from northwestern Canada through Alaska into the Bering Sea.

2. It is home to several Indigenous communities, including the Tlingit, Tutchone, Han, Yupik, and Gwich'in peoples, making it culturally rich and diverse.

3. Salmon are a key species in the Yukon ecosystem. They migrate from the ocean upstream to spawn and then die after laying eggs.

4. Young salmon hatch in freshwater and later swim downstream to the ocean, creating a continuous cycle of movement.

5. Salmon carry nutrients from the ocean into the river system, playing a vital role in the nitrogen cycle of the boreal forest.

6. These fish act as a natural fertilising force and provide food for bears, eagles, wolves, lynx, and humans.

7. A healthy Yukon River functions in two directions: water flows downstream while fish and nutrients move upstream.

8. The river is closely connected to the Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean through the movement of water, sea ice, fish, and nutrients.

9. Moisture from the Bering Sea returns inland as rain and snow, making the river part of a larger natural cycle.

10. Climate change is causing permafrost to thaw, altering riverbanks, water depth, turbidity, and releasing metals into some tributaries.

11. Rising temperatures are threatening cold-water salmon populations and allowing new species to enter the region.

12. Changes in vegetation have encouraged the arrival of moose and mountain lions in areas where they were previously uncommon.

13. Despite mining activities and climate change, the Yukon still retains much of its ecological integrity.

14. The passage concludes that the future of the Yukon River and humanity are closely connected, depending on the choices people make today.

Central Idea

The Yukon River is a unique and interconnected ecosystem whose health depends on natural cycles, especially salmon migration. Climate change is altering this fragile environment, demonstrating how human actions affect nature and highlighting the close relationship between the future of the Yukon and that of humanity.

(i) Choose the correct meaning of the words as used in the passage. [2]

1. indigenous (line 3)
(c) native

2. watershed (line 12)
(b) region drained by a river

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word 'freeze'? [1]

(d) thaw

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

(a) Why is the Yukon River home to many communities? [1]

The Yukon River provides resources, transportation, and a suitable environment for life, making it home to many Indigenous communities.

(b) Briefly describe the life-cycle of a salmon. [2]

Salmon mature in the ocean and swim upstream to freshwater rivers to spawn. After laying eggs, the adult fish die. The eggs hatch, and the young fish swim downstream to the ocean, where they grow and repeat the cycle.

(c) How do historians write about a river? Why? [2]

Historians usually write about a river by following the direction of its flow downstream because rivers naturally move with gravity towards the ocean.

(d) What is the effect of the thawing permafrost on the Yukon? [2]

Thawing permafrost is changing the river's banks, depth, and sediment levels. It is also releasing metals into some tributaries, causing the water to turn bright orange.

(e) How is global warming affecting the salmon population? [2]

Global warming is warming the river waters. Since salmon are cold-water fish, the higher temperatures make it difficult for them to survive and thrive.

(iv) Precis in 50 words

Comprehension Passage: 9

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Wilfrid Pigeoncote had suddenly become heir to his uncle's estate. He was a young man about twenty-five, and was known to a wide circle of his cousins and kinfolk more by putation than by person. The numerous Wilfrids in the family were distinguished from one another chiefly by the names of their residences or professions, and this young man was known by the disgraceful nickname of ‘Wilfrid the Snatcher’.

From his late school days he had been possessed by an acute form of kleptomania-a recurring urge to steal. Anything that was small, portable and of some value had an irresistible attraction for him, provided that it fulfilled the necessary condition of belonging to someone else.

Presently Peter Pigeoncote and his wife, who were celebrating their silver wedding anniversary had received a telegram from a certain Wilfrid, saying he would be visiting to pay his respects. Assuming that it was surely the newly rich Wilfrid, the Snatcher, their awkwardness was obvious as all the silver gifts were set out in the drawing room. Awkwardness prevailed that evening when the visitor was being entertained. The guest was not at all stealthy, as expected, but appeared polite and well-assured.

After dinner in the drawing room a nervous and awkward Peter carefully showed Wilfrid the silver presents displayed. Mrs Peter was very vigilant throughout. Nevertheless, after they said 'Goodnight' to their visitor, Mrs Peter was sure that he had taken something. Immediately, it was decided that the next day, when he was in the bath, his luggage would be searched. Next morning, an alert watch was kept and as soon as he made his way to the bathroom, the couple searched his bags. The quest was brief, there embedded in the folds of his shirts, lay a silver cream jug. They took it and hurried back.

During breakfast, Wilfrid blurted out, "I'm afraid you have a thief among your servants. Something has been stolen from my bags. It was a present for you from my mother Lady Ernestine and myself, only it happened to be another silver cream jug, and because you already had seven, I thought I'd get it changed for something else."

Both the Pigeoncotes turned pale, as the mention of the mother had thrown a sudden light on the situation. This Wilfrid was Wilfrid, the Attache, who had been mistaken for Wilfrid, the Snatcher, and they had searched his bags. Mrs Peter finally had an inspiration and, when her husband was away, she suggested to Wilfrid in strict confidence that Peter also possessed the little weakness that ran in the family; he too was a kleptomaniac, like his cousin, the Snatcher. She apologised profusely, and the matter ended there, except that thereafter all their visitors kept a close watch either on their luggage or on Peter.

(i) For each word given below, choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided: [2]

(a) Portable (line 7)

fit to drink
movable
usable on many computers
sensible

(b) Certain (line 11)

particular
completely sure
sure to happen
some, but not much

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word 'admirable'? [1]

reputation
disgraceful
awkward
alert

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:

(a) Who was Wilfrid as referred to in the first paragraph? How did he get his nickname? [2]

(b) Why did awkwardness prevail that evening when the visitor was being entertained? [2]

(c) What did Mrs Peter suspect after showing the silver gifts to their guest? How was her suspicion proved incorrect? [2]

(d) What mistake had the Pigeoncote couple made? [2]

(e) What explanation did Mrs Peter give to Wilfrid the Attache to cover up her mistake? [2]

(iv) Narrate the discomfort of the Pigeoncotes during Wilfrid's visit to their house. Answer in not more than 50 words. [8]

Glossary

Heir : person who inherits property / उत्तराधिकारी
Estate : property and possessions / संपत्ति
Kinfolk : relatives, family members / रिश्तेदार
Reputation : public opinion about someone / प्रतिष्ठा
Distinguished : identified as different / अलग पहचाना गया
Residence : place where someone lives / निवास स्थान
Disgraceful : shameful, dishonourable / शर्मनाक
Nickname : informal name / उपनाम
Possessed : affected or controlled by / ग्रस्त
Acute : severe, intense / तीव्र
Kleptomania : uncontrollable urge to steal / चोरी करने की मानसिक प्रवृत्ति
Recurring : happening repeatedly / बार-बार होने वाला
Urge : strong desire / प्रबल इच्छा
Portable : easy to carry / आसानी से ले जाने योग्य
Irresistible : impossible to resist / अनिवार्य, आकर्षक
Condition : requirement, stipulation / शर्त
Celebrating : observing a special occasion / उत्सव मनाना
Anniversary : yearly remembrance of an event / वर्षगाँठ
Telegram : message sent by telegraph / तार संदेश
Awkwardness : embarrassment, discomfort / असहजता
Prevailed : existed, dominated / व्याप्त रहा
Entertained : received and treated as a guest / अतिथि-सत्कार किया
Stealthy : secretive, sneaky / चुपके से कार्य करने वाला
Assured : confident / आत्मविश्वासी
Nervous : anxious, worried / घबराया हुआ
Vigilant : watchful, alert / सतर्क
Nevertheless : in spite of that / फिर भी
Immediately : at once / तुरंत
Alert : attentive and watchful / चौकन्ना
Quest : search / खोज
Embedded : fixed firmly within / भीतर गड़ा हुआ
Folds : bends or layers of cloth / कपड़े की तहें
Blurted out : spoke suddenly without thinking / अचानक बोल पड़ा
Servants : household workers / नौकर
Mention : reference to something / उल्लेख
Attache : diplomat attached to an embassy / राजनयिक अधिकारी
Inspiration : sudden clever idea / सूझ-बूझ, प्रेरणा
Strict confidence : complete secrecy / पूर्ण गोपनीयता
Profusely : excessively, abundantly / अत्यधिक रूप से
Thereafter : after that time / उसके बाद
Luggage : bags and belongings for travel / सामान
Silver wedding anniversary : twenty-fifth wedding anniversary / विवाह की पच्चीसवीं वर्षगाँठ
Cream jug : small container for serving cream / क्रीम रखने का पात्र

Summary

1. Wilfrid Pigeoncote inherited his uncle's estate and became wealthy.

2. He was known in the family as "Wilfrid the Snatcher" because he suffered from kleptomania.

3. He had a strong habit of stealing small, valuable objects belonging to others.

4. Peter Pigeoncote and his wife received a telegram from a Wilfrid who planned to visit them.

5. They assumed that the visitor was Wilfrid the Snatcher and became anxious about their silver wedding gifts.

6. The guest behaved politely and confidently, giving no sign of being a thief.

7. Despite this, Mrs Peter suspected him of stealing one of the silver presents.

8. The couple secretly searched his luggage while he was taking a bath.

9. They found a silver cream jug in his bag and removed it.

10. At breakfast, the visitor reported that a silver cream jug had been stolen from his luggage.

11. He explained that it was a gift from his mother, Lady Ernestine, and himself.

12. Peter and Mrs Peter suddenly realized that their guest was Wilfrid the Attache, not Wilfrid the Snatcher.

13. They understood that they had wrongly suspected an innocent man and searched his belongings.

14. To cover up the mistake, Mrs Peter told him privately that Peter also suffered from kleptomania.

15. She apologised, and the embarrassing incident ended without further trouble.

16. Afterwards, visitors kept a careful watch on either their luggage or on Peter.

Central Idea / Theme

The story humorously shows how prejudice and wrong assumptions can lead to embarrassing situations. Judging people by reputation rather than by their actual behaviour often results in misunderstanding and misplaced suspicion.

(i) For each word given below choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided.

1. portable (line 7)
(b) movable

2. certain (line 11)
(a) particular

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word 'admirable'?

(b) disgraceful

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words.

(a) Who was Wilfrid as referred to in the first paragraph? How did he get his nickname? [2]

Wilfrid was a young man who had recently inherited his uncle's estate. He got the nickname "Wilfrid the Snatcher" because he suffered from kleptomania and had a habit of stealing small valuable objects belonging to others.

(b) Why did awkwardness prevail that evening when the visitor was being entertained? [2]

Awkwardness prevailed because Peter and his wife believed that their guest was Wilfrid the Snatcher. They feared that he might steal one of their valuable silver wedding gifts.

(c) What did Mrs Peter suspect after showing the silver gifts to their guest? How was her suspicion proven incorrect? [2]

Mrs Peter suspected that the guest had stolen one of the silver gifts. Her suspicion was proven wrong when he informed them that a silver cream jug had actually been stolen from his own luggage and that it was intended as a gift for them.

(d) What mistake had the Pigeoncote couple made? [2]

The Pigeoncote couple mistakenly believed that their visitor was Wilfrid the Snatcher. In reality, he was Wilfrid the Attache, and they had wrongly searched his luggage.

(e) What explanation did Mrs Peter give to Wilfrid the Attache to cover up her mistake? [2]

Mrs Peter told Wilfrid in confidence that Peter also suffered from kleptomania, a weakness that ran in the family. She used this explanation to justify the disappearance of the silver cream jug and apologised for the misunderstanding.

(iv) Precis in fifty words. [8]

Comprehension Passage: 10

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

My friend Todd owes me a dollar. He has owed it to me for twelve months, and I fear there is little prospect of his ever returning it. I can realise whenever I meet him that he has forgotten that he owes me a dollar. He meets me in the same frank friendly way as always. My dollar has clean gone out of his mind. I see that I shall never get it back.

On the other hand, I know that I shall remember all my life that Todd owes me a dollar. It will make no difference to our friendship, but I shall never be able to forget it. I don't know how it is with other people; but if any man borrows a dollar from me I carry the recollection of it to the grave.

Let me relate what happened. Todd borrowed the dollar last year on the 8th of April (I mention the date in case this should ever meet Todd's eye), just as he was about to leave for Bermuda. He needed a dollar in change to pay his taxi fare; and I lent it to him. It happened quite simply and naturally. I hardly realised it till it was all over.

Todd came back in three weeks. We spent the evening together, talking about Bermuda. I was thinking of the dollar but of course I didn't refer to it. One simply can't. I asked him what currency is used in Bermuda, and whether the American dollar goes at par. I put a slight emphasis on the American dollar, but found again that I could not bring myself to make any reference to it.

I meet Todd frequently. Only two nights ago I met him out at dinner and he was talking, apparently without self-consciousness, about Poland. He said that Poland would never pay her debts. You would think a thing like that would have reminded him of his debt. But it did not seem to do so.

It took me some time (I see Todd practically every day at my Club) to realise that he had completely forgotten the dollar. So I knew it was all over. In all this, I bear Todd no grudge. I have simply added him to the list of men who owe me a dollar and who have forgotten it. I make no difference in my demeanour towards them, but I only wish that I could forget.

But meantime, a thought—a rather painful thought—has begun to come into my mind at intervals. It is this. If Todd owes me a dollar and has forgotten it, it is possible that there must be men to whom I owe a dollar which I have forgotten. There may be a list of them. The more I think of it, the less I like it, because I am quite sure that if I had so once forgotten a dollar, I should never pay it on this side of the grave.

I want to start a general movement, a Back-to-Honesty Movement, for paying all these odd dollars that are borrowed in moments of expansion. Let us remember that the greatest nations were built upon the rock basis of absolute honesty.

(i) For each word given below, choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided:

(a) Grudge (line 24)

1. anger

2. friendship

3. ill-will

4. debt

(b) Demeanour (line 25)

1. politeness

2. impropriety

3. decency

4. conduct

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word 'secretive'?

1. frank

2. relate

3. fare

4. reference

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:

(a) Why did the narrator think that he had little prospect of getting back the dollar from Todd? [2]
(b) Why had Todd borrowed a dollar from the narrator? [1]
(c) Mention the hints that the narrator gave to remind his friend of the dollar the latter had borrowed. [2]
(d) What was the effect of Todd's failure to return the dollar on his friendship with the narrator? [2]
(e) Why did the narrator want to start a Back-to-Honesty Movement? [2]

(iv) State how the narrator has turned a trivial incident into a humorous narrative. Answer in not more than 50 words. [8]

Glossary

Prospect : possibility, likelihood / संभावना
Returning : giving back / लौटाना
Realise : understand, become aware of / समझना, एहसास होना
Frank : open and honest / स्पष्टवादी, ईमानदार
Recollection : memory, remembrance / स्मृति
Grave : death, end of life / मृत्यु, कब्र
Relate : narrate, tell / वर्णन करना
Borrowed : took temporarily with intention to return / उधार लिया
Mention : refer to / उल्लेख करना
Currency : system of money / मुद्रा
Emphasis : special stress or importance / जोर, बल
Reference : mention or allusion / संदर्भ, उल्लेख
Frequently : often / अक्सर
Self-consciousness : awareness causing embarrassment / झिझक, संकोच
Debt : money owed / ऋण, कर्ज
Reminded : caused someone to remember / याद दिलाया
Grudge : ill-will, resentment / द्वेष, बैर
Demeanour : outward behaviour, conduct / व्यवहार, आचरण
Meantime : meanwhile / इस बीच
Intervals : periods of time between events / अंतराल
Painful : causing distress / पीड़ादायक
Possible : capable of happening / संभव
Expansion : generosity, free spending / उदारता, खुलापन
Movement : organized campaign or effort / आंदोलन
Honesty : truthfulness and integrity / ईमानदारी
Basis : foundation / आधार
Absolute : complete, total / पूर्ण, संपूर्ण
Apparently : seemingly / प्रतीत रूप से
Par : equal value / समान मूल्य
Taxi fare : money paid for a taxi ride / टैक्सी का किराया
Prospect : chance of future occurrence / संभावना
Demeanour : manner of behaving towards others / व्यवहार
Rock basis : firm foundation / मजबूत आधार
Friendship : relationship of affection and trust / मित्रता
Bermuda : island territory in the North Atlantic Ocean / बरमूडा द्वीपसमूह
Grudge : feeling of persistent resentment / मनमुटाव, द्वेष

Summary

The narrator's friend Todd borrowed a dollar from him before leaving for Bermuda.
Twelve months later, Todd had still not returned the dollar.
The narrator believed Todd had completely forgotten about the debt.
Although the matter did not affect their friendship, the narrator could not forget it.
Todd had borrowed the dollar to obtain change for his taxi fare.
When Todd returned from Bermuda, the narrator tried indirectly to remind him of the loan.
He mentioned the American dollar while discussing Bermuda, but Todd did not understand the hint.
The narrator continued to meet Todd regularly.
On one occasion, Todd spoke about Poland's unpaid debts without remembering his own debt.
This convinced the narrator that Todd had entirely forgotten the borrowed dollar.
The narrator bore no ill-will towards Todd and treated him as before.
However, he added Todd to his mental list of people who owed him a dollar.
A troubling thought then occurred to him.
He wondered whether he himself might have forgotten similar debts owed to others.
He feared that people might be remembering such forgotten debts against him.
This realization made him uncomfortable and thoughtful.
As a solution, he proposed a "Back-to-Honesty Movement."
The movement would encourage people to repay small forgotten debts.
He believed that honesty in small matters is important.
The passage concludes by stressing that great nations are founded on absolute honesty.

Central Idea / Theme

The passage humorously explores how people often forget small debts they owe while remembering those owed to them. Through self-reflection, the narrator emphasizes the importance of honesty, responsibility, and integrity even in minor financial matters.

(i) For each word given below, choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided:

(a) Grudge (line 24)

anger
friendship
ill-will
debt

Answer: 3. ill-will

(b) Demeanour (line 25)

politeness
impropriety
decency
conduct

Answer: 4. conduct

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word 'secretive'?

frank
relate
fare
reference

Answer: 1. frank

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:

(a) Why did the narrator think that he had little prospect of getting back the dollar from Todd? [2]

The narrator believed Todd had completely forgotten about the dollar he had borrowed a year earlier and showed no sign of remembering or repaying it.

(b) Why had Todd borrowed a dollar from the narrator? [1]

Todd borrowed a dollar to pay his taxi fare to the airport before leaving for Bermuda.

(c) Mention the hints that the narrator gave to remind his friend of the dollar the latter had borrowed. [2]

The narrator repeatedly referred to Bermuda, asked about Todd's trip, and brought up subjects connected with the borrowed dollar in the hope of refreshing Todd's memory.

(d) What was the effect of Todd's failure to return the dollar on his friendship with the narrator? [2]

It created a feeling of irritation and awkwardness in the narrator's mind. Although their friendship continued, he could not think of Todd without remembering the unpaid dollar.

(e) Why did the narrator want to start a Back-to-Honesty Movement? [2]

He felt that many people conveniently forgot small debts they owed others. He believed that honesty in such matters was important and formed the basis of trust and good citizenship.

(iv) Precis in 50 words. [8]

Comprehension Passage: 11

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

"You are not really dying, are you?" asked Amanda.

"I have the doctor's permission to live till Tuesday," said Laura. "I never said I was going to die. I am presumably going to leave off being Laura, but I shall go on being something. An animal of some kind, I suppose. You see, when one hasn't been very good in the life one has just lived, one reincarnates in some lower organism. And I haven't been very good, when one comes to think of it. I've been mean and vindictive."

"You see," resumed Laura, "I really have some grounds for supposing that my next incarnation will be in a lower organism. I shall be an animal of some kind. On the other hand, I haven't been bad in my way, so I think I may count on being a nice animal, something elegant and lively, with a love for fun. An otter, perhaps."

"I can't imagine you as an otter," said Amanda.

"Personally, I think an otter's life would be rather enjoyable," continued Laura, "salmon to eat all the year round, and the satisfaction of being able to fetch trout in their own homes without having to wait for hours till they rise to catch the fly dangling before them, and an elegant, slender figure."

"Think, on the other hand, of the dangerous hounds," interposed Amanda. "How dreadful to be hunted and harried and finally worried to death!"

"It would not be worse than this Saturday-to-Tuesday business of dying by inches," said Laura.

As a matter of fact, Laura died on Monday.

"So dreadfully upsetting," Amanda complained to her uncle-in-law, Sir Lulworth.

Just then Egbert, Amanda's husband, entered the room, wearing an air of bereavement.

"Four of my fowls have been killed," he exclaimed. "The very four that were to go to the show on Friday. One of them was dragged away and eaten right in the middle of that new carnation bed. My best flower bed and my best fowls singled out for destruction."

"Was it a fox, do you think?" asked Amanda.

"No," said Egbert, "there were marks of webbed feet all over the place, and we followed the tracks down to the stream at the bottom of the garden; evidently, it was an otter."

"Good gracious!" fumed Egbert. "I want to have the animal killed as soon as possible."

Even Amanda's opposition weakened when, during church time on the following Sunday, the otter made its way into the house, raided half a salmon from the larder, and spread its scaly fragments on the Persian rug in Egbert's studio.

"We shall have it hiding under our beds and biting pieces out of our feet before long," said Egbert.

And from what Amanda knew of this particular otter, she felt that the possibility was not a remote one.

Questions

(i) For each word given below, choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided:

1. Vindictive (line 6)
(a) polite
(b) clear
(c) selfish
(d) revengeful

2. Interposed (line 16)
(a) spoke
(b) intervened
(c) clarified
(d) singled out

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word "bliss"?

(a) satisfaction
(b) elegant
(c) bereavement
(d) carnation

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:

(a) What was the doctor's permission?

(b) Which animal does Laura think she will be reincarnated into? Why?

(d) What was the reason for Egbert's bereavement?

(e) What happened in Amanda's house on Sunday that weakened her opposition to the otter?

(iv) Summarise how the otter proved Laura right. Answer in not more than fifty words. [8]

Glossary

Presumably : probably; likely / सम्भवतः; शायद

Reincarnates : is born again in another form / पुनर्जन्म लेना

Incarnation : a particular form of life after rebirth / अवतार; पुनर्जन्म का रूप

Organism : a living thing / जीव; जीवधारी

Vindictive : having a desire for revenge / प्रतिशोधी; बदला लेने वाला

Otter : a fish-eating aquatic mammal / ऊदबिलाव

Elegant : graceful and attractive / सुघड़; आकर्षक

Slender : thin and graceful / पतला; छरहरा

Interposed : interrupted to say something / बीच में बोलना; हस्तक्षेप करना

Harried : troubled or chased repeatedly / परेशान किया हुआ; सताया हुआ

Worried (by hounds) : attacked and injured by animals / नोचा-खसोटा गया; घायल किया गया

Bereavement : sorrow caused by loss or death / शोक; वियोग

Fowls : domestic birds such as chickens / घरेलू पक्षी; मुर्गियाँ

Carnation : a flowering plant with colourful blooms / कार्नेशन का फूल

Destruction : complete ruin or damage / विनाश; नष्ट करना

Webbed Feet : feet with skin joining the toes / जालीदार पैर

Evidently : clearly; obviously / स्पष्टतः; जाहिर तौर पर

Fumed : spoke angrily / क्रोधित होना; गुस्से में कहना

Opposition : resistance or disagreement / विरोध

Raided : entered and seized food or property / धावा बोलना; लूट लेना

Larder : a room or cupboard where food is stored / भंडारघर; खाद्य-संग्रह कक्ष

Scaly Fragments : pieces covered with fish scales / शल्कयुक्त टुकड़े

Persian Rug : a carpet made in the Persian style / फ़ारसी कालीन

Particular : specific; special / विशेष; खास

Remote (possibility) : unlikely or distant / असंभावित; दूर की संभावना

Summary

1. Laura tells Amanda that she is not afraid of death and believes in reincarnation.

2. She thinks she may be reborn as a lower organism because she has been mean and vindictive.

3. Laura imagines becoming a lively and elegant otter.

4. Amanda points out the dangers of an otter's life, but Laura still finds it preferable to her slow death.

5. Laura unexpectedly dies on Monday instead of Tuesday.

6. Soon after, Egbert discovers that four of his prize fowls have been killed by an otter.

7. The otter continues creating trouble by stealing salmon from the house.

8. Egbert becomes determined to have the animal killed.

9. Amanda suspects that the mischievous otter may somehow be Laura reincarnated.

10. The story ends humorously with Amanda believing the otter might indeed behave exactly as Laura would.

Central Idea

The passage humorously explores the idea of reincarnation and suggests that a person's character may continue even after death. Through irony and wit, the story hints that Laura may have returned as an otter whose mischievous behaviour reflects her lively and vindictive nature.

(i) For each word given below, choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided:

1. Vindictive (line 6)
Answer: (d) revengeful

2. Interposed (line 16)
Answer: (b) intervened

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word "bliss"?

Answer: (c) bereavement

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:

(a) What was the doctor's permission?
The doctor had permitted Laura to live until Tuesday, according to her humorous remark about her condition.

(b) Which animal does Laura think she will be reincarnated into? Why?
Laura thinks she will be reincarnated as an otter. She believes that although she has been mean and vindictive, she has not been completely bad and therefore deserves to become a lively and pleasant animal.

(c) Why does Laura believe that an otter's life is better than hers?
Laura believes an otter's life is better because it can enjoy plenty of salmon and trout, live freely, and have an elegant, slender figure. She also feels it would be better than slowly dying.

(d) What was the reason for Egbert's bereavement?
Egbert was upset because four of his best fowls, which were to be exhibited at a show, had been killed by an otter.

(e) What happened in Amanda's house on Sunday that weakened her opposition to the otter?
While the family was at church, the otter entered the house, stole half a salmon from the larder, and scattered its remains on the Persian rug in Egbert's studio, causing considerable annoyance.

(iv) Précis in 5 × 10 Grid

Comprehension Passage 12

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Ivan, a middle-class man, lived with his family on a meagre income and was satisfied with his lot. One day, while he was reading the newspaper, his wife asked him to see whether the list of lucky numbers in the lottery was there.

"Yes, it is," said Ivan, "but what is your lottery number?"

"Series 9,499, number 26."

Ivan had no faith in lottery luck, but now, as he had nothing else to do, he passed his finger downwards along the column of numbers. And immediately his eye was caught by the figure 9,499.

"Masha, your number is there!" he said to his wife.

His wife looked at his astonished face and realised that he was not joking.

The husband and wife began laughing and staring at one another in silence. The possibility of winning bewildered them. Ivan began dreaming a little.

"And if we have won," he said, "it will be a new life; it will be a transformation! The ticket is yours, but if it were mine I should, first of all, of course, spend twenty-five thousand on property in the shape of an estate, ten thousand on immediate expenses, new furnishings, travelling, paying debts, and so on. The other forty thousand I would put in the bank and get interest on it."

"Yes, it would be nice to buy an estate," said his wife, also dreaming; and from her face it was evident that she was enchanted by her thoughts.

"I should certainly go abroad," said his wife.

He walked about the room and went on thinking. It occurred to him: what if his wife really did go abroad? It is pleasant to travel alone. Ivan imagined his wife in the train—she would be sighing over something, complaining that the train made her head ache, that she had spent so much money. At the stations she would continually be having him run for boiling water, bread and butter. She would not have dinner because it was too dear.

"The lottery ticket is hers, not mine!" exclaimed Ivan. "I should be dependent upon her. I can fancy how, like a regular woman, she will lock the money up as soon as she gets it. She will look after her relations and grudge me every farthing."

And his wife's face, too, struck him as repulsive and hateful. Anger surged up in his heart against her. She had her own daydreams. She knew he would be the first to try to grab her winnings.

Her husband understood her look and, in order to verify the winning number, he read the newspaper again and said, "The winning number is Series 9,499, number 46! Not 26!"

Hatred and hope both disappeared at once.

Questions

(i) For each word given below, choose the correct meaning (as used in the passage) from the options provided:

1. Astonished (line 9)
(a) shocked
(b) surprised
(c) angered
(d) satisfied

2. Bewildered (line 11)
(a) suffered
(b) understood
(c) baffled
(d) believed

(ii) Which word in the passage means the opposite of the word "abundant"?

(a) meagre
(b) lucky
(c) faith
(d) transformation

(iii) Answer the following questions briefly in your own words:

(a) What was Ivan's attitude towards the lottery? Why did he decide to check the lottery number in the newspaper?

(b) How did Ivan react on seeing his wife's number in the lottery?

(d) What troubles did Ivan imagine if he accompanied his wife on a journey by train?

(e) Why did hatred and anger for his wife surge in Ivan's heart?

(iv) Explain Ivan's feelings at the thought of winning the lottery. Answer in not more than fifty words. [8]

Comprehension Passage 13

Comprehension Passage 14

Comprehension Passage 15

Comprehension Passage 16

Comprehension Passage 17

Poetry of Dr. Shankar D Mishra

Thursday, 11 June 2026

TOTAL ENGLISH: COMPREHENSION PASSAGE/PRECIS, STD. 9, 2026

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