Reading Comprehensions

1. What causes the monsoon? The monsoon, which is essentially the seasonal reversal in wind direction,
causes most of the rainfall received in India and some other parts of the world. The primary cause of
monsoons is the difference between annual temperature trends over land and sea. The apparent
position of the Sun with reference to the Earth oscillates from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of
Capricorn. Thus the low pressure region created by solar heating also changes latitude. The northeast
and southeast trade winds converge in this low pressure zone, which is also known as the Intertropical
Convergence Zone or ITCZ. This low pressure region sees continuous rise of moist wind from the sea
surface to the upper layers of the atmosphere, where the cooling means the air can no longer hold so
much moisture resulting in precipitation. The rainy seasons of East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Australia
and the southern part of North America coincide with the shift of ITCZ towards these regions.

1.Monsoon is______

(a) A type of sea wave

(b) a seasonal reversal in wind direction

(c) very hot wind

(d) veiy cold wind.

2.What is the full form of ITCZ?

(a) Intertrance Convergence Zone

(b) Intertropical Convergence Zone

(c) Intertropical Capricorn Zone

(d) Intertropical Conveyance Zone.

3.The major cause of monsoon is the

(a) difference between annual temperature trends over land and sea

(b) difference between day and night temperature

(c) moisture in the atmosphere

(d) None of these.

4.Low pressure region is created by

(a) solar heating

(b) lunar cooling

(c) moist wind

(d) dry wind.

5.It rains when

(a) moist wind goes down

(b) dry wind meets moist wind

(c) the air can no longer hold moisture resulting in precipitation

(d) annual temperature goes down.

2. Garbage is a great environment hazard. It comes from various sources—used paper, tiffin packings,
plastic bags, ice-cream wrappers, bottle caps, fallen leaves from trees and many more. Garbage makes
the premises ugly, and breeds diseases. A lot of trash that is thrown away contains material that can be
recycled and reused such as paper, metals and glass which can be sent to the nearest recycling centre or
disposed of to the junkdealer. It also contains organic matter such as leaves which can enrich soil
fertility. A compost pit can be made at a convenient location where the refuse can be placed with layers
of soil and an occasional sprinkling of water. This would help decomposition to make valuable fertilizer.
This would also prevent pollution that is usually caused by burning such organic waste.

1. Garbage originates from

(a) used paper, tiffin, packings, plastic bags and fallen leaves from trees

(b) leftovers of food

(c) fallen branches from trees

(d) building materials.

2. Garbage can create havoc to the mankind by

(a) spreading foul smell

(b) slowing our vehicles on the road

(c) spreading several diseases

(d) all the above.

3. What happens to the disposed of material at the recycling centre?

(a) It is thrown away

(b) It is recycled for reuse

(c) It is sold to the rag pickers

(d) It is dumped into the ground.

4. Fallen leaves from trees are useful because they

(a) solve the problem of fuel wood in village households

(b) enrich water quality

(c) enrich soil fertility

(d) beautify landscape.

5. Which of these is correct with reference to a composite pit?

(a) The refuge is placed with layers of soil with an occasional sprinkling of water

(b) It contributes to the manufacture of useful fertilizer

(c) It prevents pollution

(d) All the above.

3. In an opal dream cave, I found a fairy:

Her wings were frailer than flower petals, Frailer far than snowflakes.

She was not frightened, but poised on my finger, Then delicately walked into my hand.

I shut the two palms of my hands together, And held her prisoner.

I carried her out of the opal cave, Then opened my hands.

First she became thistledown, Then a mote in a sunbeam,

Then-nothing at all. Empty now is my opal dream cave.

1. In a cave the speaker found

a. an ogre b. a fairy c. a witch

2. The fairy's wings were frailer than

a. leaves b. snowflakes c. paper

3. She walked into the speaker's

a. hand b. ear c. mouth

4. The speaker shut her palms together and held the fairy as

a. responsible b. prisoner c. gently

5. When the speaker opened her palms, the fairy became

a. a feather b. a flower c. thistledown

4. Miss Sharma is a teacher in a very reputed school. She lives in our neighbourhood. We feel that she is
a model human being. And this is the reason why. Every day after returning from her duties, she
educates street children at her house. There is a courtyard in her bungalow, and she has set up a
classroom there. There is a blackboard and a board to put up various Charts and pictures. The highlight
of the little classroom is a projector and a screen. Children get to watch movies and useful videos, and
this is why they never miss a single class. Though strict as a teacher, Miss Sharma pampers the children
too. She makes scrumptious dishes for them. She makes sure they get ample healthy nutrients along
with receiving quality education. She holds an award ceremony every year and encourages enthusiastic
kids. She works non-stop and even holds night-schools for the underprivileged. There are many children
who cannot pay attention to their studies because they have to work to support their families. Miss
Sharma visits their homes and tries to convince their parents to send the children to schools. She talks
about the importance of education in one's life. She urges them to think about the benefits of educating
their children. She talks of practical advantages like getting a proper job with a salary, or a chance to
explore new business ventures. She tells them that whichever sphere of life they choose to work in,
education will always provide help and support. Miss Sharma has no children of her own, but there are
fifty children or more she thinks of as her own! We are very proud of her. She has shown us what one
can do to make the society better. Her house is full of children and it is a very happy place.

1. Miss Sharma is a teacher in a ______ school.

a. city b. reputed c. residential

2. The word ______ is a synonym for the word 'scrumptious'.

a. delicious b. healthy c. salty

3. Miss Sharma is a ______ teacher, although she pampers the children

a. good b. dedicated c. strict

4. Many children in Miss Sharma's class cannot pay attention to their studies because

a. they do not concentrate on what she is saying.

b. they have to work to support their families.

c. they are thinking about the movies.

5. Miss Sharma has _____ children of her own.

a. no b. fifty c. more than fifty

5. Amit asked his mom if he could ride his bike to the park. “As long as you wear your helmet when you
are riding”, she said.When Amit got to the park it was filled with people holding garbage bags. A lot of
his friends were there and so were some of his teachers. His friend Babita said “Everyone is pitching in
and cleaning the park today.” She asked Amit if he would help. Amit said, “Sure,” and asked for a
garbage bag. There was garbage everywhere. Amit picked up candy wrappers, juice pouches,
newspapers and apple cores. It was really gross. After an hour he had filled three garbage bags. His
friends filled a lot of garbage bags too. When everyone was finished, one of the teachers loaded the
garbage bags into his pick -up truck to take them to the dump. The park looked great. They put signs
around the park that read, “Please place garbage in garbage cans and help to keep the park clean.”The
teachers bought pizza and lemonade for everyone who helped clean the park. After they ate, Amit and
his friends made sure to put their garbage into the garbage cans.

Answer the following questions.

1. What were people holding when Amit got to the park? __________________

2. What were Amit’s friends and teachers doing at the park? __________________

3. Where was Amit’s teacher taking the garbage bags? __________________

4. What does teacher bring for everyone ? _____________

6. The smile is the best tonic for our mind and body. It takes thirteen muscles to smile, but forty-three to
be angry. So, it is easier to smile and difficult to be angry. To be cheerful, we have to create positive
thoughts. On the other hand, if we constantly think about negative things, we feel unhappy. So, the best
way to avoid a negative idea is to replace it with a positive one. When we are relaxed in bed, we should
practise putting some cheerful thoughts.

1. What is the best tonic for our mind and body?

2. What should we do to be cheerful?

3. What is the best way to replace a negative idea?

4. What should we practise when we are relaxed in bed?

5. What happens when we constantly think about negative things?

7. Once there was a wolf. He stole a lamb from a flock of sheep. As he was carrying it off the lamb said, "
Will you please fulfill my last desire before eating me?"
5*1=5

" What is your last desire?" asked the wolf.

 The lamb said," I know you are a good flute player. So, please play your flute before killing me." The
wolf was very happy to hear the praise. He took out his flute and played it. When he stopped
playing ,the lamb said, "wonderful! I think you can play the flute far better than anyone else. Please do
play it once again." The wolf was very pleased to hear this. So, he played the flute once again. The
shepherd heard the music and came running. The wolf ran away. The lamb was saved.

A. Choose the correct options.

1. The wolf stole a _____

a) lamb b) parrot c) mare

2. The lamb _____ the wolf.

a) praised b) laughed at c) teased

3. The wolf played the flute _____

a) once b) twice c) thrice

B. Answer in one word.

a) What is the collective noun of wolves?

b) Write the meaning of 'Group' from the passage.

8. The horse is very useful animal. It is found in almost every country. It feeds on grass or gram. It is,
therefore, used for riding over long distances. It is used in the cities for carrying luggage by cart. An
Arabian horse is world famous.It is used by the military to carry soldiers. It is also used in sports. Horse
racing and polo are very popular sports in which horse plays a part.

1. What does the horse feed on?

2. How is the horse used in cities?

3. Which horse is used in the military?

4. Name two games where horses play a part.

5. Pick out the synonym of given words.

i) helpful ii) popular

9. Ever since she burst into the scene by making it to the 1980 Moscow Olympics as a 16 - year old, P. T.
Usha's tall deeds have exemplified Indian sporting excellence. The spirit queen was so consistent for
over a decade that she was truly the flag bearer who helped countrymen live the dream of a rare
sporting excellence in the international arena. Hailing from a remote village called Payyoli, Usha became
an icon for sport lovers. She made the nation swell with pride, every time she stepped on to the track.
She gave unalloyed joy to her fAnswer: when she became the first Indian woman to make it to Olympic
final. Usha's greatest moment was also the most shattering in her life as she was pushed to the fourth
place in the 400 meters hurdles final at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The Romanian Christina
Cojocaru won the bronze medal. Usha lost by an agonising 1/100th of a second. But every Indian
household acknowledge the sense of achievement, though it fell short of India's first Olympic medal
from the track. Several girls born during the 1980s were named after the golden girl. It served as an
eloquent testimony to the love and affection many people had for Usha.Usha's reign as the Asian sprint
queen was highlighted by her snapping up five gold medals and a bronze at the 1985 Jakarta Asian track
and field meet followed by a sensational four gold medals and one silver haul at the Seoul Asian Games
the following year.

1. Answer the following questions.

a. When did Usha capture the imagination of the entire nation?

b. How did she hefp her countrymen five the dream of a rare sporting excellence?

c. Why were many girls in the mid 80s named after Usha?

d. What was the most shattering moment in the life of Usha?

2. Write the main events that happened in Usha's life in the following years.

1980

1984

1985

1986

10. Airplanes have the reputation of being dangerous and even hardened travellers are intimidated by
them. They also have the grave disadvantage of being the most expensive form of transport but nothing
can match them for speed and comfort, travelling at a height of 30,000 feet, far above the clouds, and at
over 500 miles an hour is an exMlarating experience. You do not have to devise ways of taking your
mind off the journey, for an airplane gets you to your destination rapidly. For a few hours, you settle
back in a deep armchair to enjoy the flight. The real escapist can watch a free film show and sip a hot or
cold drink on some services. But even when such refreshments are not available, there is plenty to keep
you occupied. An airplane offers you an unusual breathtaking view of the world. You soar effortlessly
over high mountains and deep valleys. You really see the shape of the land. If the landscape is hidden
from view, you can enjoy the extraordinary sight of unbroken clouds, plains that stretch out for miles
before your while the sun shines brilliantly in a clear sky. The journey is so smooth that there is nothing
to prevent you from reading or sleeping. However you decide to spend your time, one thing is certain:
you will arrive at your destination fresh and uncrumpled. You will not have to spend the next few days
recovering from a long and arduous journey.
1. The main disadvantage of an air journey is that:

(a) it is very dangerous

(b) it is very expensive

(c) it is very boring

(d) it is a fearsome experience

2. The best advantage of air journey is that:

(a) you can watch a free film

(b) you can sip hot coffee or tea

(c) you can watch clouds

(d) you don't feel tired after the journey

3. Pick out the incorrect statement.

(a) an airplane moves at more than 500 miles an hour speed

(b) one arrives crumpled at the destination after air journey

(c) one can easily read or sleep during air journey

(d) one can see the shape of land from an aeroplane

4. How can one keep oneself busy during air journey

(a) by watching movie

(b) by enjoying the beautiful sights outside

(c) by reading and sleeping

(d) all the above

5. Which of the following is a synonym for intimidated

(a) terrified (b) excited

(c) bored (d) none of above