Reading Comprehension Test 4

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Gardeners are being encouraged to grow striped flowers to encourage bumblebee populations after research suggested that the insects are most attracted to them. stripes on petal veins direct bumblebees to the flower's "central landing platform" to gather nectar and pollen. Researchers also found that red flowers were also attractive to bumblebees.
Bees play a key role in agriculture by pollinating crops. The scientists say that growing such inviting plants could be a way for people to help stem what has been called a "catastrophic" decline in UK bumblebee populations.
Professor Cathie Martin from John Innes Centre in Norwich said red, and striped flowers were visited significantly more frequently than white or pink blooms. More flowers were visited per plant as well, she added.

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Marcia says that all of her friends have a cell phone, but Marcia's mom doesn't want to buy her one. Marcia's mom doesn't want Marcia to play video games either. What is more, the Internet scares her. Marcia's mom says, "If Marcia has a cell phone, how do we know whom she is talking to? Video games are bad for you. The internet is dangerous and uncontrolled. It's like having a gun in the house. We should just ban her from using the computer, and I'm not buying her a cell phone until she is eighteen. This is the only way we can be sure that Marcia is safe." Marcia's dad disagrees with Marcia's mom. Although he agrees that there are some dangers to it, he likes the Internet and finds it very useful. "The trouble is," he says, " We just can't stop Marcia from using the internet, as this would put her at a disadvantage. What's more, I like video games. I think that, when played in moderation, they are fun. Obviously, it is not good to play them without resistance or self-control. Finally, I think Marcia needs a cell phone. we can't take these things away.

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Read the following passage and answer the question given after it.
No sooner had I launched forth on a life of ease and comfort than I began to cut down heavy expenses. The washer man's bill was heavy. Collars had to be changed daily and shirts, if not daily, at least every alternate day. this meant double expenses which appeared to me unnecessary. So I equipped myself with a washing outfit to save it. I bought a book on washing, studied the art and taught it also to my wife. This no doubt added to my work, but its novelty made it a pleasure. I shall never forget the first collar that I starched. I had used more starch then necessary. The iron had not been made hot enough and for fear of burning the collar, I had not pressed it sufficiently. The result was that though the collar was fairly stiff, the superfluous starch continually dusted the jacket. I went to court with collar on, thus inviting the ridicule of brother barrister, but even in those days I could be impervious to ridicule.

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Read the text in the box and answer the question that follows.
Caution !
Thermal Power Plant Area.
Entry restricted beyond this point. Trespassers are liable to be prosecuted.

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[passage-header]Read the paragraph and answer the question that follows:
[/passage-header]His disqualification from the Olympics turned out to be __(1)__ as he was to realize soon. By unlucky coincidence, the very same week his father was in __(2)__, and he turned his full attention on getting him __(3)__.

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Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

Mario was not your run-of-the-mill school going, teenager. He was just like a boy scout-he had a motto. His motto was 'Hoard stuff the dirtier the better'. His bedroom was full of curious stuff, but one thing was common to all of it, they were all muddy and dirty. There was a flat bike tyre, a broken badminton racquet, a deflated football tube and even a goldfish bowl with a hole in the bottom. His irritated mother pleaded with him to clean his room. but he stoutly refused to do so 'never throw anything out you don't know when it might come in handy'. The same was the case with his backpack. It was filled with broken cables, a magnet, some coloured streamers from an old birthday party, even stale cookies. He often used these things with a good deal of imagination, much to the joy of his friends. He was immensely popular in school because of this. It was this ability of his to make innovative use of even rubbish that made him stand out from his classmates.
Tales of Mario's creativity abounded in the school. "He rescued a stray puppy and fed the poor hungry mongrel some of his stale cookies!" "He helped the physics teacher recover a lost iron rod with his horseshoe magnet!", " He managed to console a sobbing toddler by giving her the streamers".

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Read the poem and answer the question that follows:

Follow the winding stream
Follow its curvy course
Oh, look at the jumping bream
But don't fry them on the shores
When the sun dips low
Low down on the horizon
The flowers and birds take a bow
But the stars are not yet risen.
As the heavens turn inky
And the farm turns just very laggard
The lads turn in on kips creaky
The world turns languid

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