Sheet 1

Unseen Passages

Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1. A group of youths from Peddapuram town in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district
launched a social media group called Mana Peddapuram' (Our Peddapuram), a few
years ago. The idea was to discuss issues affecting the town and act upon them. A few
months ago, Naresh Pedireddi, who has been behind the group came up with the
concept of 'rice-for-plastic'. The idea behind the exchange was to encourage people to
part with their non-biodegradable waste in large numbers. "The slogan we promoted
was 'Avoid Plastic-Avoid Hunger'. We wanted to get rid of plastic and also feed the
hungry," says Pedireddi, a Peddapuram-based entrepreneur.

2. The programme was launched on Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary on 2nd
October. Within days, the group was able to collect around 400 kgs of plastic and an
equal amount of rice and other materials were distributed during the drive. Now they
plan to do it every Sunday.

3. The plastic that was collected was deposited at the local municipality office. They
promised that it will be recycled," says Pedireddi.

4. For a town of around 70,000 people, the amount of plastic they collected through
these drives is just a drop in the ocean. But the group says that they will continue to
raise awareness among the residents of the town.

5. "The most satisfying thing about this drive has been that it has inspired people in
other towns of the district to launch such initiatives," says Pedireddi.

6. The Mana Peddapuram, besides raising civic issues like cleanliness, deforestation,
and cultural events, has also run campaigns spreading awareness on blood donation
and the pledging of organs.

7. The group claims that funds are not a problem as the people in Peddapuram are
generous when it comes to donating money for worthy causes.

8. "We have hundreds of young people in this group and we hope to take up many more
issues in the coming months and years," says Pedireddi. We can only hope for many
more such enthusiastic youth organizations that work for nation-building. -V Kumara
Swamy

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions by choosing the
correct option.

(a) The social media group called 'Mane Peddapuram' was launched for
(i) commercial purposes

(ii) keeping in contact with friends and relatives

(iii) creating a platform to discuss social issues

(iv) gaining popularity

(b) The idea behind the concept of 'rice-for-plastic' was

(i) helping the hungry people

(ii) collecting plastic to be sold at higher price

(iii) helping the farmers

(iv) managing non-biodegradable waste

The plastic collected was deposited with the local municipal committee so that they
could (i) send it for recycling

(ii) sell it to the junk dealer

(iii) identify people using non-biodegradable material

(iv) give award to Naresh Pedireddi

(d) 'a drop in the ocean' means

(i) very large

(iii) in liquid state

(ii) too little

(iv) quite important

(e) In the slogan 'Avoid Plastic, Avoid Hunger', how could the hunger be avoided?

(i) by keeping busy in social services

(iii) by distribution of rice

(ii) by selling the non-biodegradable waste (iv) all the above

rice and other materials were distributed during the drive. (para 2). Which of the
following sentences uses the word 'drive' similar in meaning to the one given in the
above sentence? (i) Mr. Gupta's son drives his car very sensibly.

(ii) Too much cruelty to the workers can drive them to go on a strike.
(iii) The supermarket is only a five minutes' drive away.

(iv) Our school launched a drive to collect funds for the orphan children. (g) Which of
the following is the best suitable title for this passage?

(i) Rice for Plastic

(iii) Important Civic Issues

2 (ii) Mana Peddapuram O (iv) Avoid Hunger

(h) Arrange the following events in chronological order:

I. the plastic is deposited at the municipality for recycling.

II. 400 kg of plastic is collected.

III. social media group called 'Mana Peddapuram' is launched.

IV. equal amount of rice and other material is distributed.

V. people from other areas also get inspired.

(i) III, II, I, V, IV

(iii) IV, II, I, III,

(ii) III, II, III,V

(iv) V, II, I, IV, III

(i) Which of the following cannot be called a donation?

(i)I will not use plastic.

(iii) I will Donate blood.

(ii) I will donate money.

(iv) I will donate my organs.

(Which of the following is the opposite of 'generous"?

(i) cunning

(ii) wicked

(iii) cruel

(iv) selfish
Sheet 2
Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow. (10
marks) 1. 'Click!" That's the sound of safety. That's the sound of survival. That's the
sound of a seat belt locking in place. Seat belts save lives and that's a fact. That's why I
don't drive anywhere until mine is on tight. Choosing to wear your seat belt is as simple
as choosing between life and death. Which one do you choose?

2. Think about it. When you're driving a car, you may be going 60 MPH or faster. That car
is zipping down the road. Then somebody ahead of you locks up his or her brakes. Your
driver doesn't have time to stop. The car that you are in crashes. Your car was going 60
miles per hour. Now it has suddenly stopped. Your body, however, is still going at 60
MPH. What's going to stop your body? Will it be the windshield or your seat belt? Every
time that you get into a car you make that choice. I choose the seat belt.

3. Some people think that seat belts are uncool. They think that seat belts cramp their
style, or that seat belts are uncomfortable. To them I say, what's more uncomfortable?
Wearing a seat belt or flying through a car windshield? What's more uncool? Being
safely anchored to a car, or skidding across the road in your jean shorts? Wearing a seat
belt is both cooler and more comfortable than the alternatives. 4. Let's just take a closer
look at your choices. If you are not wearing your seat belt, you can hop around the car
and slide in and out of your seat easily. That sounds like a lot of fun. But, you are also
more likely to die or suffer serious injuries. If you are wearing a seat belt, you have to
stay in your seat. That's no fun. But, you are much more likely to walk away unharmed
from a car accident. Hmmm... A small pleasure for a serious pain. That's a tough
choice. I think that I'll avoid the serious pain. 5. How about giving money away? Do you
like to give your money away? Probably not. And when you don't wear your seat belt, you
are begging to give your money away. That's because kids are required to wear seat belts
in every state in several countries. If you're riding in a car, and you don't have at seat belt
on, the police can give you or your driver a challan ticket. Then you will have to pay fine
for the offence.

6. Wearing a seat belt does not make you invincible. You can still get hurt or killed while
wearing your seat belt. But wearing them has proven to be safer than driving without
them. You are much less likely to be killed in a car wreck if you are wearing a seat belt.
You are much less likely to get seriously injured if you are wearing one. So why not take
the safer way? Why not go the way that has been proven to result in fewer deaths? You
do want to live, don't you?

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions by choosing the
correct option.
(a) Which title best expresses the main idea of this text?

(i) Car Accidents: Ways That We Can Prevent Them

(ii) Slow Down: Save Lives By Driving Slower

(iii) Seat Belts: Wear Them to Survive Any Wreck (iv) Why Not? Improve Your Odds with
Seat Belts

(6) Which best expresses the author's main purpose in writing this text?

(i) To inform readers about seat belt laws

(ii) To persuade readers to wear seat belts

(iii) To entertain readers with stories and jokes about seat belts (iv) To describe what car
accidents are like without seat belts

(c) Which best describes the text structure in the fourth paragraph?

(i) Compare and contrast

(iii) Sequential order

(ii) Chronological order

(iv) Problem and solution

(d) Which best defines the word alternatives as it is used in the third paragraph?

(i) Being safe

(iii) Other choices

(ii) Being unsafe

(iv) Driving fast

(e) Which best expresses the main idea of the fifth paragraph?

(i) Seat belts are a waste of money.

(iii) Not wearing a seat belt may cost you.

(ii) People don't like to give money away. (iv) Seat belt laws save lives.

(f) Which best defines the word 'invincible' as it is used in the last paragraph?'

(i) Uncool

(iii) Glow-in-the-dark

(ii) Difficult or impossible to see

(iv) Unable to be harmed

(i) Being safe is more important than being cool.

(ii) Moving freely around a car is worth the risks.

(iii) Seat belts will keep you safe in any car accident.

(iv) You should be most concerned with your comfort.

(h) Which argument is not made by the author?

(i) Not wearing a seat belt can be expensive.

(ii) Penalties for not wearing a seat belt should increase.

(iii) Seat belts keep you from flying through the windshield.

(iv) Wearing a seat belt is cooler than suffering an injury.

(j) The opposite of 'fewer' would be

(i) lesser

(ii) longer

(iii) shorter

(iv) more
Sheet 3
Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow.

The choices we make on a daily basis-wearing a seatbelt, lifting heavy objects correctly
or purposely staying out of any dangerous situation-can either ensure our safety or bring
about potentially harmful circumstances.

You and I need to make a decision that we are going to get our lives in order. Exercising
self-control, self-discipline and establishing boundaries and borders in our lives are
some of the most important things we can do. A life without discipline is one that's filled
with carelessness.

We can think it's kind of exciting to live life on the edge. We like the image of "Yeah!
That's me! Living on the edge! Woo-hoo!" It's become a popular way to look at life. But if
you see, even highways have lines, which provide margins for our safety while we're
driving. If we go over one side, we'll go into the ditch. If we cross over the line in the
middle, we could get killed. And we like those lines because they help to keep us safe.
Sometimes we don't even realize how lines help to keep us safe.

I'm not proud of this, but for the first 20 years of my life at work, I ignored my limits. I felt
horrible, physically, most of the time. I used to tell myself "I know I have limits and that
I've reached them, but I'm going to ignore them and see if or how long I can get by with
it." I ran to doctors, trying to make myself feel better through pills, vitamins, natural stuff
and anything I could get my hands on. Some of the doctors would tell me, "It's just
stress." That just made me mad. I thought stress meant you don't like what you do or
can't handle life, and I love what I do. But I kept pushing myself, traveling, doing
speaking engagements and so on- simply exhausting myself.

Finally, I understood I was living an unsustainable life and needed to make some
changes in my outlook and lifestyle.

You and I don't have to be like everyone else or keep up with anyone else. Each of us
needs to be exactly the way we are, and we don't have to apologize for it. We're not all
alike and we need to find a comfort zone in which we can enjoy our lives instead of
making ourselves sick with an overload of stress and

pressure.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions by choosing the
correct option.

(a) Which of the characteristics are apt about the writer in the following context: "I
know I have limits and that I've reached them, but I'm going to ignore them and see
if or how long I can get by with it."?
 1. negligent
2. indecisive
3. spontaneous
4. reckless
5. purposeless
6. patient

(i) 2 and 5

(iii) 1 and 4

(ii) 3 and 6

(iv) 2 and 3

(b) The reason why living on the edge has become popular, is because of the

(i) constant need for something different.

(ii) population being much younger.

(iii) exhausting effort to make changes.

(iv) strong tendency to stay within our limits.

(c) The phrase "potentially harmful circumstances" refers to circumstances that can

(i) certainly be dangerous.

(iii) be possibly dangerous.

(ii) be fairly dangerous. (iv) seldom be dangerous.

(d) Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of 'outlook', as used in the
passage.

1. A person's evaluation of life

2. A person's experiences in life

3. A person's point of view towards life

4. A person's regrets in life

5. A person's general attitude to life

(i) (1) and (4)

(iii) (3) and (5)

(ii) (2) and (3)

(e) Choose the option that best captures the central idea of the passage from the given
quotes.

1. It's all about quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends.

2. To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.

3. Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.

4. Balance is not something you find, it's something you create.

(i) Option (1)

(iii) Option (3)

(ii) Option (2)

(iv) Option (4)

(f) The author explains the importance of discipline and boundaries in our lives using the
example of

(i) road accidents.

(ii) traffic rules.

(iii) lines on the highway.

(iv) safe driving.

(g) The author attempts to ________ the readers through this write-up.

(i) rebuke

(ii) question

(iii) offer aid to

(iv) offer advice to

(h) What is the message conveyed in the last paragraph of the passage?

(i) Love what you do.

(ii) Love yourself to love others.

(iii) Be the best version of yourself.

(iv) Be yourself.

(i) Which of the following will be the most appropriate title for the passage?

(i) Much too soon

(ii) Enough is enough

(iv) Have enough to do?

(j) The author uses colloquial words such as "yeah" and "Woo-hoo!". Which of the
following is NOT a colloquial word?

(i) hooked

(iii) stuff

(ii) guy

(iv) stress
Sheet 4
Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow.

(1) Have you ever failed at something so miserably that the thought of attempting to do it
again was the last thing on your mind?

(2) If your answer is yes, then you should understand that you are not a robot. Unlike
robots, we human beings have feelings, emotions, and dreams. We are all meant to
grow despite our circumstances and limitations. Flourishing and trying to make our
dreams come true feels great when life goes our way. But what happens when it does
not? What happens when you fail despite all your hard work? Do you stay down and
accept defeat or do you get up again? If you tend to persevere and keep going, you have
what experts call 'grit'.

(3) Falling down or failing is one of the most agonising, embarrassing, and scary human
experiences. But it is also one of the most educational, empowering, and essential
parts of living a successful and fulfilling life. Did you know that perseverance (grit) is one
of the seven qualities that has been described as the key to personal success and
betterment in society? The other six are curiosity, gratitude, optimism, self-control,
social intelligence, and zest. Thomas Edison is an example of grit for trying more than
1,000 times to invent the light bulb. If you are reading this with the lights on in your
room, you will realise the importance of his success. When asked why he kept going
despite hundreds of failures, he merely stated that they had not been failures, they were
hundreds of attempts toward creating the light bulb. This statement not only revealed
his grit but also his optimism for looking at the bright side.

(4) Grit can be learnt to help you become more successful. One of the techniques that
help is mindfulness. Mindfulness is a practice that makes an individual stay at the
moment by bringing awareness of his or her experience without judgement. This
practice has been used to quieten the noise of fears and doubts. Through this simple
practice of mindfulness, individuals have the ability to stop the self- sabotaging
downward spiral of hopelessness, despair, and frustration.

(5) What did you do to overcome the negative and self-sabotaging feelings of failure?
Reflect on what you did, and try to use those same powerful resources to help you
today.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions by choosing the
correct option.

(a) The reason why you are not a robot is that:

(iii) You work hard

(ii) Failure and success can affect your emotions (iv) You have limitations

(b) Choose the option that best captures the central idea of the passage from the given
quotes.

"What is the point of being alive if you don't at least try to do something remark- able?"

(1) -John Green

"Mistakes are the portals of discovery."

(2) -James Joyce

"Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a
temporary detour, not a dead end."

(3) -Denis Waitley

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.

(4)-Albert Einstein

(i) Option (1)

(ii) Option (2)

(iii) Option (3)

(iv) Option (4)

(c) What is the tone of the following context: "Falling down or failing is one of the most...
educational, empowering, and essential parts of living a successful and fulfilling life?"

(i) Humorous

(iii) Horrifying

(ii) Optimistic

(iv) Solemn

(d) Which of the following is relevant for the title of the passage.

(i) Dreams Always Come True

(ii) Failure and Grit Go Hand in Hand

(iii) Humans vs Robots

(iv) Falling Down and Getting Up

(i) electricity

(iii) current

(ii) light bulb

(iv) tube light

Which of the following sentences makes the correct use of "grit", as used in the
passage?

(i) Get rid of that grit in your shoes.

(g) To develop perseverance one must:

(i) become more aware

(ii) work hard

(iii) be in the moment and be aware without judgement

(iv) seek guidance

(h) How does mindfulness help?

(i) It creates awareness

(iii) It helps one become successful

(ii) It quietens the noise of fears and doubts

(iv) It helps develop focus

(i) What do you understand from this line, "Falling down or failing is one of the most
agonising, embarrassing, and scary human experiences."?

(i) Falling down makes us angry.

(iii) Stay positive and be optimistic

(ii) Failure can deeply affect our emotions

Choose the option that correctly states the meaning of 'social intelligence' as implied in
the passage:

(i) Knowing others

(iii) Knowing oneself

(ii) Knowing oneself and others

(iv)Knowing one's surroundings

Sheet 5
Read the passage given below carefully and answer the questions that follow.

1. Cricket in South Asia is a Carnivalesque, festive game. It carries not merely the
baggage of competition and achievement, but is also a participatory cultural event that
evokes images of religious festivals, convivial social gatherings, picnics and theatre. It is
now gradually becoming a substitute for war, a means of redeeming self esteem and
expressing xenophobia, and a depot of weird conspiracy theories. No country now loses
a game because the other side is better, a country loses only because its cricketers and
cricket administrators are under patriotic, corrupt, greedy or self-centered.

2. Unfortunately for ultra nationalists and fortunately for the rest, cricket is one game in
which the best training, organization and preparation do not yield corresponding results.
It is a subversive game that rebels against the productivity principle on which is built the
world of globalised capitalism. Luck plays a major role in the final outcome of a match
or series. In this respect, cricket is unlike football, tennis or chess. The grandeur of
cricket and the cliched reference to its glorious uncertainties come from a cultivated
ignorance of this inner contradiction in the game. Cricketers and their fans- to-say
nothing of the experts-have to learn to live with the unpredictability without getting
overly judgemental or paranoiac. All games have some built-in uncertainties, only
cricket has turned the gracious acceptance of this into a measure of character.

3. Let us not forget that in cricket the 22 players involved are never on the field at the
same time. Consequently, one team may play in full sunshine, While the other may have
to play under an overcast sky when the ball begins to swing. One team may bat on a
green top, the other on a wearing pitch. You can never truly equalise the outer
conditions for the two teams. So a cricketer not merely plays against the opposition, but
also against his own fate. That is one reason why it is typically Indian or if you prefer,
South Asian game.
4. This is a cultural region that recognizes the role of destiny in human affairs. All
cricketers are superstitious because of the nature of their job. Only south Asians are not
embarrassed about it and have unashamedly built ritualised ways of dealing with
destiny as a normal part of a cricketer's life. If you want a game where the investment of
money, hard training and ruthless professionalism will pay predictable results, and the
results will be a pure reflection of skill and talent, you should choose another game.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the given questions.

(a) The meaning of the first sentence is

(i) that cricket is seasonal like festivals

(ii) that during cricket matches carnivals are organized

(iii) that a cricket match is a cultural event like a festival or a carnival

(iv) that cricket is not a game but a carnival festival

(b) How is cricket becoming a substitute for war?

(i) Countries stake their image and self-esteem on the outcome of the game

(ii) Political interests have invaded the game

(iii) Cricket teams receive international funding.

(iv) The spectators are filled with patriotic sentiments.

(c) It (cricket) rebels against the productivity principle means that

(i) Cricket does not produce results

(ii) Cricket is played by rebels

(iii) The principles of crickets are rebellious and unproductive

(iv) Training and preparation do not necessarily bring success

(d) Cricketers are superstitious. This can be understood because they

(i) Believe in the role of destiny

(ii) Learn to live with unpredictability

(i) Know that luck plays a major role in their success

(iv) All of the above

(e) 'Baggage' in paragraph 1 means

(i) Elements
(ii) Cricket bats and balls etc.

(iii) Luggage

(iv) Hand bags

Corresponding in paragraph 2 means

(i) Writing

(iii) Relating to correspondence

(ii) Matching

(iv) Expected

(g) According to the passage can we equalise the outer conditions for the two teams?

(i) Yes, absolutely

(iii) Never

(ii) Sometimes

(iv) Can't say

(h) Which of the following game has turned the gracious acceptance of this into a
measure of character?

(i) Cricket

(ii) Baseball

(iv) Hockey

(iii) Football

(i) Cricket is one game which has the

(i) best training

(iii) preparation

(ii) organization

(iv) all of the above

Find the antonym of the word 'assisted' used in paragraph 4.

(i) Recognise

(iii) Investment

(ii) Destiny
(iv) Embarrassed