Available Answers

1. 1.

   Passage

   I am always amazed when I hear people saying that sports create goodwill between the nations and that if only the common people of the world could meet one another at football or cricket, they would have no inclination to meet on the battle field. Even if one did not know from concrete examples that international sporting contests lead to orgies of hatred, one could deduce it from general principles.

   Nearly all the sports practised nowadays are competitive. You play to win, and the game has little meaning unless you do your utmost to win. In the village where you pick up sides and no feeling of local patriotism is involved, it is possible to play simply for the fun and exercise, but as soon as the question of prestige arises, as soon as you feel that you and some larger unit will be disgraced if you lose, the most savage combative instincts are aroused. Anyone who has played even in a school football match knows this. At the international level sport is frankly mimic warfare. But the significant thing is not the behaviour of the players but the attitude of the spectators and, behind the spectators, of the nations who work themselves into fumes over these absurd contests, and seriously believe at any rate for short periods - that running, jumping and kicking a ball are tests of national virtue.

   Questions:

   1. What does the author believe?
   2. What does the author refer to by "concrete examples"?
   3. What do players do in competitive games?
   4. What are sports at international level?
   5. Give the synonyms of:
      1. amazed
      2. orgies
   6. Give the antonyms of:
      1. combative
      2. arouse
2. 2.

   Passage

   Women's educaton in India is one of the foremost concerns of the Government of India as well as of the society at large. It is due to the fact at the present time the educated women play a very significant role in the overall development and progress of the country. Women hold a prominent position in the Indian society and all over the world. However, since the prehistoric times women were denied opportunities and had to suffer for the hegemonic masculine ideology. This unjustifiable and unwarrantable oppression had resulted into a movement that fought to achieve the equal status of women all over the world. Women's education in India is consequence of such progress and this led to the tremendous improvement of women's condition  throughout the world. Nevertheless eradication of female illiteracy is considered as a major concern today.

   In the present era, the Indian society has established a number of institutions for the educational development of women and girls. These educational institutions aim for the immense help and are concerned with the development of women. In the modern society, women in India have come a long way. Indian women are at par with men in all kinds of tasks like reaching the moon, conquering Mount Everest, and participating in all fields. All this is possible just because of education and profound impact it has had on women.

   Questions:

   1. Why is education for women necessary?
   2. Why is at present education for women not at par with that of men?
   3. What has been a major boost for female literacy in India today?
   4. How has progress and improvement in education for women enabled them?
   5. What is the present condition of women in India?
   6. Write opposites of the following words:
      1. Prominent
      2. Denied
      3. Suffer
      4. Major