Available Answers

1. 1.

   Read the following passage:

   Armadillo

   Live and seek refuge from extreme weather or predators. An armadillo burrow is about 7-8 inch wide and up to 15 feet deep.

   Armadillos are mainly insectivores, with over 90 per cent of their diet consisting of animal matter, like insects and other invertebrates. They're also known to eat the occasional reptile or amphibian - especially in colder weather. The remainder of their consists of plant matter, although it's been found that most of the vegetation they eat has been consumed incidentally.

   In native southern regions, armadillos are nocturral year-round, keeping cool underground during the day and foraging at night. However, because of the armadillos' relatively low body temperature, the nine-banded species in North America tends to change its habits in the cooler months and emerge during the day to take advantage of the warm sun.

   Solitary animals, armadillos spend their live foraging alone and only interact to breed or care for their young. Young armadillos become independent about 6-12 months after they are born.

   1. On the basis of your reading of the above passage, answer the following questions.
      1. What make armadillos unique?
      2. What kind of climate do armadillos prefer?
      3. Why do armadillos gravitate towards loose porous soil?
      4. What is an armadillo's main diet?
      5. Why do the armadillos, that are found in the North America, come out during the day time?
      6. At what age does an armadillo begin to become independent?
   2. Find a word from the passage that means the same as each of the following.
      1. wander
      2. feed
      3. solitary
      4. foraging
2. 2.

   Read the following passage:

   The Mughals

   The Mughals who ruled over India for over three centuries have a tremendously rich history and influence over India. from Babar to Aurangzeb, each Mughal emperor has his unique significance. With six rulers, namely, Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jehangir, Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb, the Mughal Empire reached its peak and some of the famous architecture India enjoys today, was built under their reign. The last Mughal emperor was Bahadur Shah II.

   The first Mughal emperor to rule over India was Babur, who descended from the Turka-Mongol conqueror Timur and the founder of the Mongol Empire Ghenghis Khan. Babur established supreme control over northern India after winning the Battle of Panipat in 1526.

   Under the reign of Aurangzeb, who imprisoned his own father, the Mughal Empire had reached the peak of its territorial dominance with its influence stretching from Afganistan to Cape Comorin. All the major civilizations in India felt the presence of the Mughal Empire during his reign.

   The Mughal Empire gave a lot of rich acrhitectural buildings to India and their influence over the Indian architecture in immense. Some of the finest examples include Red Fort. Jama Masjid, Humayun's Tomb, Shalimar Gardens and Fatehpur Sikri. Unlike his predecessors, Shah Jahan's architecture exuded elegance and an enormous attention to detail. The finest example of this is the Taj Mahal, which was built in the memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal.

   Originally coming from the imperial kitchens of the Mughal Empire, the Mughal cuisine has become an integral part of the Indian culture, especially in North India. It is characterized by a distinctive aroma and its spices. the kebabs are an example.

   A painting style which was a blend of the India and the Persian painters flourished during the empire. it was during Akbar, Shah Jahan and Jahangir's reign, that we saw an increased attention towards art. Some notable works include Hamzanama, Khamsa of Nizami and Darab Nama.

   1. On the basis of the above passage, answer the following questions.
      1. How many emperors ruled during the peak of Mughal period?
      2. Who was the last Mughal Emperor?
      3. Mention one major achievement of Aurangzeb.
      4. Write a short note on Mughal architecture in your own words based on what you have read in the above passage.
   2. Name the following.
      1. One Mughal cuisine mentioned in the passage.
      2. Some of the finest examples of Mughal architecture.
      3. The Mughal painting is a blend of two different art forms. Name them.
      4. Some notable Mughal paintings.
3. 3.

   Read the following poem:

   Good Hours

   I had for my winter evening walk-
   No one at all with whom to talk
   But I had the cottages in a row
   Up to their shining eyes in snow.
   And I thought I had the folk within:
   I had the sound of violin;
   I had a glimpse through curtain laces
   Of youthful forms and youthful faces.
   I has such company outward bound.
   I went till there were no cottages found.
   I turned and repented, but coming back
   I saw no window but that was black.
   Over the snow my creaking feet
   Disturbed the slumbering village street
   Like profanation, by your leave,
   At ten o'clock of a winter eve.

   1. On the basis of above poem, answer the following questions.
      1. At what hour is the poet taking his walk?
      2. What does the poet hear while taking the walk?
      3. What do you understand by "slumbering village street"? What disturbs the slumbering village street?
      4. What did the poet see through the window curtains?
   2. Write down some words from the poem that symbolize sound.
   3. What is the rhyme scheme used in the poem?
   4. Write a short paragraph, describing the scene that the poet visualizes in his poem.
4. 4.

   Read the following passage:

   Stamp collecting

   Stamp collecting or philately has very few rules. One does not have to buy expensive instruments or gadgets to enjoy it. However, simple things need to be remembered when we collect stamps. One of the essential rules to remember is that the condition of a stamp is very important. Badly torn and damaged stamp is very unpleasant to look at, but they are not worth anything when compared to their intact counterparts. Try to get the best, undamaged specimens. Stamps are rated in condition from damaged to best. the stamps which are called "best" are of high quality. That means it has been centred perfectly, it has the right amount of colour and the quality of the gum is not cheap. Used stamps can also be called the "best", if the centre is in perfect angle. Fresh looking and lightly cancelled stamps can also pass. Since the stamps are only bits of paper, one should be cautious while handling them. using tons is the best way to handle stamps safely.

   While collecting stamps, possibly the most important book a collector would want to use is a stamp catalogue. This depends on the type of stamps one wants to collect. One of the first things philatelists learn through collecting stamps of other countries is geography. It is best to get an atlas, globe on a world map to help locate countries whose issued stamps one wants to have in their collection. There have been many stamps atlases that have been published for philatelists. These atlases show "dead" countries that used to exist at one point of time and would issue stamps, as well as current nations that exist in the world. There are various reasons why collectors decide to collect stamps not by country of issue, but because of some other distinct feature. There are philatelists who collect stamps that are oddly shaped, or papers that are not specifically stamps, such as labels and seals which look like them. These are commonly called cinderellas as they appear to be something they are not.

   1. Now answer the following questions.
      1. What is technical term used for stamp collection? Why is it not so difficult to do?
      2. What is the most essential rule of stamp collecting?
      3. How are stamps rated?
      4. What do philatelists learn from collecting stamps?
      5. What are cinderellas?
   2. Write true (T) or false (F) for the following statements.
      1. The condition of stamps is not important for collecting them.
      2. Stamp atlases are published for philatelists.
      3. The first thing a philatelist learns from stamps is biology.
      4. Philatelists can also collect oddly shaped stamps.
      5. Stamp atlases only show dead countries.
5. 5.

   Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below:

   Tom Sawyer

   Tom Sawyer was always getting into trouble. He was the kind of boy who just couldn't resist adventure. Tom lived with his Aunt Polly, his cousin Mary and his half-brother Sid. Everyone knew about his mischief-making. Sid told Aunt Polly about Tom missing school and going swimming.

   Now, as a punishment for his behaviour, Tom found himself faced with the chore of whitewashing thirty yards of fence on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

   Tom appeared with a bucket of whitewash and long-handled brush.

   He surveyed the fence. All gladness left him and a deep melancholy settled down upon his spirit. Thirty yards of board fence, nine feet high! Sighing, he dipped his brush and passed it along the topmost plank; repeated the operation; compared the insignificant whitewashed streak with the far-reaching continent of unwhitewashed fence and sat down on a tree-box, discouraged.

   Jim came skipping out at the gate carrying a pail and singing. Bringing water from the town pump had always been a hateful work in Tom's eyes before, but now it did not strike him so. He remembered that there was company at the pump. Boys and girls were always there waiting their turns, resting, trading playthings, quarrelling, fighting. And he remembered that although the pump was only a hundred and fifty yards off, Jim never got back with a bucket of water before an hour, and even then somebody generally had to go after him. Tom said, "Say, Jim, I'll fetch the water if you'll whitewash some. I'll give you a marble." Jim shook his head fearing Aunt Polly's slipper.

   1. Complete the following statements.
      1. Tom had been told to whitewash the fence as a punishment for...
      2. Tom was discouraged as he looked at the whitewashed fence because...
      3. Jim was going to...
      4. Jim did not wish to trade places with Tom because...
   2. Tick (√) the correct option.
      1. ____________ had complained to Aunt Polly about Tom's mischief.
         1. Sid
         2. Mary
         3. Jim
      2. As Tom looked at the fence, his feeling were those of
         1. unhappiness
         2. fear
         3. gladness
      3. As Tom began to whitewash the fence, he felt discouraged because
         1. the topmost plank was too high
         2. whitewashing the fence would take time
         3. the fence would soon be whitewashed
      4. Tom offered Jim a marble because
         1. he wanted Jim to whitewash the fence
         2. he wanted to go and fetch water
         3. he wanted Aunt Polly to hit Jim with her slipper
      5. Tom offered to fetch water for Jim as
         1. Jim had given him a marble
         2. he wanted to go to the pump to meet his friends
         3. Jim wanted to whitewash the fence