Reading Comprehension: Board PYQs |Class IX-X | Competency-Based | 2024-25
Practise the Reading Comprehension Worksheet of Board PYQ & Ace your Marks in Board Exams.
Q1. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow :
Mankind’s fascination with gold is as old as civilization itself. The ancient Egyptians held gold in high esteem. Gold had religious significance for them, and King Tutankhamen was buried in a solid gold coffin 3300 years ago. The wandering Israelites worshipped a golden calf, and the legendary King Midas asked that whatever he touched be turned into gold.
Not only is gold beautiful, but it is virtually indestructible. It will not rust or corrode. Gold coins and products fabricated from the metal have survived undamaged for centuries. Gold is extremely easy to work with. One ounce, which is about the size of a cube of sugar, can be beaten into a sheet nearly 100 square feet in size, and becomes so thin that light can pass through it. An ounce of gold can also be stretched into a wire 50 miles long. Gold conducts electricity better than any other substance except copper and silver, and it is particularly important in modern electronic industry.
People have always longed to possess gold. Unfortunately, this longing has also brought out the worst in human character. The Spanish conquerors robbed palaces, temples and graves and killed thousands of people in their ruthless search for gold. Even today, the economy of South Africa’s gold mines depend largely on the employment of black labourers who are paid about 40 pounds a month, plus boarding and lodging. They work in conditions that can only be described as cruel. About 400 miners die in South Africa each year.
Much of the gold’s value lies in its scarcity. Only about 80,000 tons have been mined in the history of the world. All of it can be stored in a vault 60 feet square, or a super tanker. Great Britain was the first country to adopt the gold standard, when the Master of the Mint, Sir Issac Newton, established a fixed price for gold in 1717. The discovery of gold in the last half of the nineteenth century in California, (1848) and later in Australia and South Africa changed everything. Before the discovery, there wasn’t enough gold around for all the trading nations to link their currencies to the precious metal.
An out-of-work prospector named George Harrison launched South Africa into the gold age in 1886 when he discovered the metal in a farm near what is now Johannesburg. Harrison was given a 12 pounds reward by the farmer. He then disappeared and was eaten by a lion.
One of the biggest gold mining areas in the Soviet Union is the Kolyma River region, once infamous for its prison camp. The camp has gone, but in a way nothing has changed. Many ex-prisoners have stayed on to work in the mines and are supervised by ex-guards.
Despite the current rush to buy gold, 75 percent of the metal goes into making jewellery. Italy is the biggest consumer of gold for this purpose, and many Italian jewellers even tear up their wooden floors and burn them to recover the tiny flecks of gold. Historically, the desire to hoard gold at home has been primarily an occupation of the working and peasant classes, who have had no faith in paper money. George Bernard Shaw defended their instincts eloquently, “You have to choose between trusting the natural stability of the honesty and intelligence of the members of the government,” he said “and with due respect to these gentlemen, I advise to vote for gold.”
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.
(i) When was King Tutankhamen buried ?
(a) 1717
(b) 1886
(c) 3300 years ago
(d) 1848
(ii) Why did Egyptians hold gold in great esteem ?
(a) because it is a good conductor of electricity.
(b) because of its religious significance.
(c) for lovely gold ornaments.
(d) because it is indestructible.
(iii) According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true ?
(a) Gold is the best conductor of electricity.
(b) Apart from gold, copper and silver are good conductors of electricity.
(c) Gold can be easily beaten, hence it is easy to work with.
(d) Gold plays an important role in the modern electronics industry.
(iv) Select the option that displays what the writer projects, with reference to the following.
The wandering Israelites worshipped a golden calf _______.
(a) importance of religion
(b) importance of the metal
(c) good conductor
(d) can replace money
(v) How were the black labourers exploited ?
(vi) Complete the following with the phrase from paragraph 1 :
Opinion | Reason |
King Tutankhamen was buried in a solid gold coffin 3300 years ago. |
(vii) Based on your reading of the text, list 2 reasons why the writer says that, Not only is gold beautiful but it is virtually indestructible.
________________________
________________________
(viii) Who launched South Africa into the gold age ?
(a) Issac Newton
(b) George Harrison
(c) George Bernard Shaw
(d) A farmer
(ix) Select the option that corresponds to the analogy from the following sentence
The ancient Egyptians and the modern electronic industry both hold gold in high esteem.
(a) The hardworking student came first because of his diligent practice.
(b) Modesty is discredited whereas strategy is appreciated.
(c) The vibrant colours made the interiors look luminous.
(d) The steaming food was both appetizing and tasty.
(X) Supply one point to justify the following :
The desire to hoard gold at home has been primarily an occupation of the working and peasant classes.
Answer Key
(i) (c)3300 years ago.
(ii) (b) because of its religious significance.
(iii) (a) Gold is the best conductor of electricity
(iv) ( a) importance of religion / (b) importance of the metal.
(v) Paid only 40 pounds a month with boarding and lodging and worked under cruel conditions.
(vi) held gold in high esteem / gold had religious significance
(vii) (any two)
(i) does not rust / corrode
(ii) Gold coins have survived undamaged for centuries
(iii) gold was easy to work with
(viii) (b) George Harrison
(ix) (b) Modesty is discredited whereas strategy is appreciated.
(x) They don’t have faith in paper money.
Q2. Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow :
Starting Monday, the country’s low-cost Mars mission with the red planet for an extended period will enter the “blackout” phase snapping communication with the satellite. From June 8 to 22 the Sun will block Mars from the Earth snapping communication with the satellite.
A senior Indian Space Research Organisation official said. “This will be for the first time that there will be a communication break for such a long period of about 15 days. During this period, there will be no communication with the satellite”, he added.
Expressing confidence about regaining control over the satellite once the blackout phase is over, he said, “the scenario has been tested and the line of communication will be established.” The spacecraft’s life has been extended for another six months in March due to surplus fuel.
Stating that the spacecraft has been “configured” for the blackout, the ISRO official said, “we are not sending any commands to the spacecraft now, till 8th June few hours of signals will be sent by the spacecraft that will be for about two to three hours per day”. In May next year, the mission will have to go through a similar phase once again, if there is another extension of mission life when the Earth will come between the Sun and Mars.
Scripting space history, India on September 24 last successfully placed its low-cost Mars spacecraft in orbit around the red planet in its very first attempt, breaking into an elite club of three countries.
(i) Infer one reason for the following based on information in paragraph 1. The ‘blackout’ phase is significant _______.
(ii) Choose the appropriate option to fill in the blank.
From paragraph 1 & 2, we can infer that there will be ________
1. no communication with the people.
2. blackout phase.
3. satellite will get no communication.
4. moon will block the earth.
5. the communication break will be for 15 days.
(a) 1, 2 & 3
(b) 1, 3 & 4
(c) 2, 3 & 5
(d) 3, 4 & 5
(iii) The communication with the satellite will break for approximately _____ days.
(a) 10
(b) 15
(c) 20
(d) 25
(iv) Complete the following analogy correctly with a word/phase from paragraph 2 :
aroma : cooking : : _______ : space research
(Clue – just like aroma is integral to cooking, similarly _____ is/are integral to Space Research.)
(v) According to ISRO official till 8th July, when Sun will block Mars, _____ signal / signals per day will be sent to the spacecraft.
(a) no
(b) considerable
(c) indefinite
(d) only for few
(vi) Select the correct option to complete the following sentence :
The ISRO officials are _____ about their control over the spacecraft after the blackout phase.
(a) doubtful
(b) apprehensive
(c) confident
d) jittery
(vii) The spacecraft’s life was extended by six months because of
(a) extra fuel
(b) incomplete work
(c) lack of communication amongst ISRO officials
(d) technical problems in its landing
(viii) Read the following sentences :
(A) The blackout was a sudden development.
(B) Because of this, the officials are very nervous about the success of the spacecraft.
(a) Both (A) & (B) are true.
(b) Both (A) & (B) are false.
(c) (A) is true and (B) is false.
(d) (A) is false and (B) is true.
(ix) Substitute the word ‘nonpareil’ with one word similar in meaning in the following sentence from paragraph 5.
India managed to get into the nonpareil club of Mars spacecraft in orbit.
(x) The phrase 'snapping communication' in the context of a satellite in Para 1 means the same as:
A) Disconnecting
B) Strengthening
C) Extending
D) Stabilising
Answer Key
(i) no communication / snapping communication
(ii) (c) 2, 3 and 5
(iii) (b) 15
(iv) Satellite / Indian Space Research Organisation / communication with satellite
(v) (a) no
(vi) (c) confident
(vii) (a) extra fuel
(viii) (b) both (A) and (B) are false.
(ix) elite
(x) A) Disconnecting
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