Reading Compreh...

[passage-header]Read the passage and answer the question that follows:[/passage-header]Daffodils, the trumpet-shaped flowers bloom during the spring. In fact, daffodils are the first sign of spring and they symbolize rebirth, new beginnings, and friendship. It is the flower of those born in March. Daffodils are native to the Mediterranean region but are cultivated all over the world. The flower is called Nargis in Hindi, perhaps because of its association with the egotistical Greek God Narcissus. Legend has it that Narcissus fell in love with his own image in a pool of water. He was so enamoured by his own image that he fell into the water and drowned. The flower, also called Narcissus, grew where he died. This led to it becoming a symbol of unrequited love. A gift of daffodil flowers is believed to ensure happiness. It is a common decoration flower during the Chinese New Year. Feng Shui experts believe that if a daffodil bulb blooms during the New Year it will bring good luck to your home. The flowers have been viewed as symbols of Christ's resurrection and the promise of eternal life. In Wales, it is a symbol of the patron saint, David. Daffodil bulbs, because of their astringent properties, are pounded and made into a paste to be applied to wounds. Pharma companies use daffodil extracts to make drugs that are used to treat Alzheimer's and Polio.

[passage-header]Read the passage and answer the question that follows:[/passage-header]Daffodils, the trumpet-shaped flowers bloom during the spring. In fact, daffodils are the first sign of spring and they symbolize rebirth, new beginnings, and friendship. It is the flower of those born in March. Daffodils are native to the Mediterranean region but are cultivated all over the world. The flower is called Nargis in Hindi, perhaps because of its association with the egotistical Greek God Narcissus. Legend has it that Narcissus fell in love with his own image in a pool of water. He was so enamoured by his own image that he fell into the water and drowned. The flower, also called Narcissus, grew where he died. This led to it becoming a symbol of unrequited love. A gift of daffodil flowers is believed to ensure happiness. It is a common decoration flower during the Chinese New Year. Feng Shui experts believe that if a daffodil bulb blooms during the New Year it will bring good luck to your home. The flowers have been viewed as symbols of Christ's resurrection and the promise of eternal life. In Wales, it is a symbol of the patron saint, David. Daffodil bulbs, because of their astringent properties, are pounded and made into a paste to be applied to wounds. Pharma companies use daffodil extracts to make drugs that are used to treat Alzheimer's and Polio.

[passage-header]Read the poem carefully and answer the question that follows:
[/passage-header]Rise, brothers, rise; the wakening skies pray to the morning light, 
The wind lies asleep in the arms of the dawn like a child that has cried all night. 
Come, let us gather our nets from the shore and set our catamarans free, 
To capture the leaping wealth of the tide, for we are the kings of the sea! 

No longer delay, let us hasten away in the track of the sea gull's call, 
The sea is our mother, the cloud is our brother, the waves are our comrades all. 
What though we toss at the fall of the sun where the hand of the sea-god drives? 
He who holds the storm by the hair will hide in his breast our lives. 

Sweet is the shade of the cocoanut glade, and the scent of the mango grove, 
And sweet are the sands at the full o' the moon with the sound of the voices we love; 
But sweeter, O brothers, the kiss of the spray and the dance of the wild foam's glee; 
Row, brothers, row to the edge of the verge, where the low sky mates with the sea.

[passage-header]Read the following passage and answer the question that follows:[/passage-header]'He who hesitates is lost' is a well-known proverb. A leader who cannot decide on a plan of action will not be able to accomplish anything worthwhile. Indecision leads to confusion because people do not know what to do. Prompt decision-making is of great use in an emergency. A young doctor once had a patient who complained of intense pain. The doctor consulted two other doctors to find out if an operation should be performed. The other doctors felt that the patient's condition should be observed for a few days. But the young doctor, who felt responsible for the patient, examined him once again and decided to operate immediately. When the operation was performed, the other doctors realised that a delay of even a few hours would have proved fatal to the patient. A prompt decision by the young doctor saved the life of his patient.
We are often faced with difficult problems. It is up to us to take prompt decisions that could make the difference between success and failure. We must be able to say 'yes' or 'no' without delay, and no 'maybe' or 'perhaps' after hours of deliberation.
This does not mean we should say 'yes' or 'no' without thinking. We must cultivate the ability to quickly think out all the favourable and unfavourable circumstances of a situation and then decide whether we should say 'yes' or 'no'. To linger over a decision for days and months will get us nowhere. Hence, prompt decision-making is very important, if one wants to achieve success.

[passage-header]Read the passage and answer the question that follows:[/passage-header]The moon's role in causing tides is much higher and important than that of the sun. The reason is that the moon enjoys more proximity to the earth than the sun as such its force of attraction is stronger than that of the sun in attracting the surface water. Tides are of immense importance. In trade, navigation, and fishing, tides are very useful. During the high tide, the water depth near the coast goes up and helps big ships to reach the ports. Kandla port in Gujarat and Diamond Harbour in West Bengal owe their very existence to the tides only. The significance of both London and Kolkata also depends on the tides.
Tides also keep the harbours clear of refuse and mud brought down by rivers and thus they do not allow the harbours to be silted. Commonly, the tidal rivers are navigable. For the purpose of generating electricity, tidal waves are harnessed. Tides do not allow the sea water to be frozen by keeping the sea water in motion. Tides are also made use by the fishermen for sailing into the sea and returning to the harbour. In countries like Canada, U.K., France, and Japan, tidal power stations are set up.

[passage-header]Read the passage and answer the question that follows:[/passage-header]The moon's role in causing tides is much higher and important than that of the sun. The reason is that the moon enjoys more proximity to the earth than the sun as such its force of attraction is stronger than that of the sun in attracting the surface water. Tides are of immense importance. In trade, navigation, and fishing, tides are very useful. During the high tide, the water depth near the coast goes up and helps big ships to reach the ports. Kandla port in Gujarat and Diamond Harbour in West Bengal owe their very existence to the tides only. The significance of both London and Kolkata also depends on the tides.
Tides also keep the harbours clear of refuse and mud brought down by rivers and thus they do not allow the harbours to be silted. Commonly, the tidal rivers are navigable. For the purpose of generating electricity, tidal waves are harnessed. Tides do not allow the sea water to be frozen by keeping the sea water in motion. Tides are also made use by the fishermen for sailing into the sea and returning to the harbour. In countries like Canada, U.K., France, and Japan, tidal power stations are set up.

[passage-header]Read the passage and answer the question that follows:[/passage-header]The moon's role in causing tides is much higher and important than that of the sun. The reason is that the moon enjoys more proximity to the earth than the sun as such its force of attraction is stronger than that of the sun in attracting the surface water. Tides are of immense importance. In trade, navigation, and fishing, tides are very useful. During the high tide, the water depth near the coast goes up and helps big ships to reach the ports. Kandla port in Gujarat and Diamond Harbour in West Bengal owe their very existence to the tides only. The significance of both London and Kolkata also depends on the tides.
Tides also keep the harbours clear of refuse and mud brought down by rivers and thus they do not allow the harbours to be silted. Commonly, the tidal rivers are navigable. For the purpose of generating electricity, tidal waves are harnessed. Tides do not allow the sea water to be frozen by keeping the sea water in motion. Tides are also made use by the fishermen for sailing into the sea and returning to the harbour. In countries like Canada, U.K., France, and Japan, tidal power stations are set up.

[passage-header]Read the passage and answer the question that follows:[/passage-header]The moon's role in causing tides is much higher and important than that of the sun. The reason is that the moon enjoys more proximity to the earth than the sun as such its force of attraction is stronger than that of the sun in attracting the surface water. Tides are of immense importance. In trade, navigation, and fishing, tides are very useful. During the high tide, the water depth near the coast goes up and helps big ships to reach the ports. Kandla port in Gujarat and Diamond Harbour in West Bengal owe their very existence to the tides only. The significance of both London and Kolkata also depends on the tides.
Tides also keep the harbours clear of refuse and mud brought down by rivers and thus they do not allow the harbours to be silted. Commonly, the tidal rivers are navigable. For the purpose of generating electricity, tidal waves are harnessed. Tides do not allow the sea water to be frozen by keeping the sea water in motion. Tides are also made use by the fishermen for sailing into the sea and returning to the harbour. In countries like Canada, U.K., France, and Japan, tidal power stations are set up.

[passage-header]Read the poem carefully and answer the question that follows:[/passage-header]When I'm An Old Lady
When I'm an old lady, I'll live with each kid,
And bring so much happiness just as they did.
I want to pay back all the joy they've provided.
Returning each deed. Oh, they'll be so excited!
I'll write on the walls with reds, whites, and blues,
And bounce on the furniture wearing my shoes,
I'll drink from the carton and then leave it out.
I'll stuff all the toilets and oh, how they'll shout.

When they're on the phone and just out of reach,
I'll get into things like sugar and bleach.
Oh, they'll snap their fingers and then shake their head,
And when that is done, I'll hide under the bed.
When they cook dinner and call me to eat,
I'll not eat my green beans and salad or meat.
I'll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table,
And when they get angry I'll run if I'm able.

I'll sit dose to the T.V., through the channels I'll click
I'll cross both eyes just to see if they stick
I'll take off my socks and throw one away,
And play in the mud till the end of the day.
And later in bed, I'll lay back and sigh,
I'll thank God in prayer and then close my eyes.
My kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping.
And say with a groan, "She's so sweet when she's sleeping!"
[passage-footer]--Barbara Hall[/passage-footer]