UNIT 13: COMPREHENSION AND INTELLIGENT READING / UNIT 14: COMPREHENSION II
Q.1. What is the difference between the two methods of ‘skimming’ and ‘scanning’?
Answer- The difference between ‘skimming’ and ‘scanning’ lies in their purpose and approach. Skimming is a quick reading technique used to get a general overview of the text by glancing through headings, subheadings, and the first and last sentences of paragraphs. Scanning, on the other hand, involves searching for specific information or keywords by quickly running your eyes over the text without reading every word.
Q.2. How should one write answers to an unseen passage?
Answer– To write answers to an unseen passage, follow these steps:
1. Read the passage multiple times to fully understand it.
2. Study the questions thoroughly and rewrite them in your own words.
3. Revisit the relevant parts of the passage, underline keywords that answer each question, and mark them clearly.
4. Be concise and focused, avoiding unnecessary details.
5. Use your own words to answer the questions, avoiding plagiarism from the original passage.
6. Revise your answers to correct spelling and punctuation errors.
These steps will help you comprehend the passage, address the questions accurately, and present your answers clearly and effectively.
Q.3. Why is it necessary to read the passage time and again while answering an unseen passage?
Answer– It is necessary to read the passage time and again while answering an unseen passage because repeated readings help in understanding the content more fully, identifying key details, and gaining a deeper grasp of the author’s message. This allows the reader to extract relevant information and effectively answer the questions by ensuring accuracy and comprehension. Multiple readings also aid in familiarizing oneself with the structure, tone, and style of the passage, enabling better interpretation and analysis. Overall, repeated reading enhances overall comprehension, enabling a more informed and accurate response to the questions posed.
Q.4. What is meant by the term ‘comprehension’? Discuss the steps to be followed while writing answers to the questions on an unseen passage. (In around 300 words)
Answer– In simple words, “comprehension” refers to the ability to understand and grasp the meaning of written or spoken information. It involves reading or listening carefully, processing the information, and making sense of it. Comprehension helps us comprehend the main ideas, details, and messages conveyed in a text or conversation. It allows us to connect the dots, draw conclusions, and gain knowledge and understanding from the information presented to us. Developing good comprehension skills is essential for effective communication and learning.
When answering questions on an unseen passage, it is important to follow certain steps to ensure accuracy and clarity in your responses. Here are the steps to be followed:
1. Read the passage thoroughly: Read the passage multiple times until you fully understand its overall meaning and message.
2. Study the questions: Carefully examine the questions related to the passage. Identify the key points and requirements of each question.
3. Locate relevant information: Go back to the passage and re-read the relevant portions that provide the answers to each question. Underline or mark the specific words or phrases that address each question.
4. Rewrite the questions: Rewrite the questions in your own words to ensure a clear understanding of what is being asked.
5. Be concise and clear: When answering the questions, strive to be brief, precise, and to the point. Avoid unnecessary elaboration or repetition.
6. Use your own words: Express your answers using your own words and avoid directly copying phrases or sentences from the passage. Plagiarism will not earn you any credit.
7. Revise and correct: Take some time to review your answers for spelling and punctuation errors. Make any necessary corrections to improve the accuracy and presentation of your responses.
By following these steps, you can effectively analyze the passage, provide accurate answers, and present your understanding in a clear and concise manner.
Q.5. What should be kept in mind while finding a suitable title for an unseen passage?
Answer– To find a heading or title for a passage, follow these simple steps:
1. Read the passage multiple times to understand its main idea. Look for it at the beginning, middle, or end of the passage.
2. Express the title using a word, phrase, or proverb that captures the essence of the passage.
3. Keep the title brief and concise, using as few words as possible.
4. Capitalize the first letter of every important word in the title.
5. Ensure that the title fully reflects the nature and content of the passage, providing a clear understanding of what it is about.
By following these steps, you can effectively find a suitable heading or title for a passage.
Exercise 1
Read the passage given below and answer the given questions:
“The pumpkin was huge. Much bigger than last year’s Halloween pumpkin. It was wedged in with the rest of the groceries in the shopping cart- as was Cole.
He still loved to be pushed through the parking lot. He was a little old for it, and way too heavy, but Lynn didn’t mind at all. It was one of the few carefree, childlike things Cole allowed himself.
The breeze was especially crisp today, and the flame-coloured tree canopies seemed to radiate their own light against the cloudy sky. Days like this made Lynn want to rise up and soar over the earth. She hoped Cole felt it too-but when she leaned over to look at him, she could see his mind was far away.
Lynn began veering left and right. She circled around to an open part of the lot, picking up speed.
Cole’s hair began to blow back in the wind. He looked up to the sun, throwing his arms outward like the wings of an airplane.
Lynn whooped with joy, pushing harder, running.
She pulled up to the rear bumper of her old Volvo station wagon with a perfect landing, Cole lowered his arms.
He was smiling now.
Sometimes, Lynn knew, the simple joys were the best.
Simple joys. Simple hopes.”
[Shyamalan, M. Night. The Sixth Sense: A Novelization. New York: Scholastic, 2000.]
Answer the following questions:
Q1. Mention one of the few carefree, childlike things that Cole liked to do.
Answer- One of the few carefree, childlike things that Cole liked to do was to be pushed through the parking lot in the shopping cart. He was a little old for it, and way too heavy, but Lynn didn’t mind at all. It was one of the few things that allowed him to be carefree and childlike.
Q2. What did Lynn like about that particular day?
Answer– Lynn liked that particular day because it was a crisp, sunny day with beautiful fall foliage. The weather was perfect for being outside and enjoying the simple things in life.
Q3. What did Lynn suddenly notice Cole doing?
Answer– Lynn suddenly noticed that Cole was looking up at the sun, throwing his arms outward like the wings of an airplane. He was smiling, and it was clear that he was enjoying the feeling of the wind in his hair and the sun on his face.
Q4. What did Lynn think to herself looking at Cole?
Answer– Looking at Cole, Lynn thought to herself that sometimes the simple joys were the best, recognizing the happiness and joy Cole experienced in that moment.
Exercise 2
Read the passage given below and answer the given questions:
“I had the whole afternoon before me, and examined about three miles of the road very carefully. When a tiger uses a road regularly it invariably leaves signs of its passage by making scratch marks on the side of road. These scratch marks, made for the same purpose as similar marks made by domestic cats and all other members of the cat family, are of very great interest to the sportsman, for they provide him with the following very useful information, (1) whether the animal that has mad the mark is a male or a female, (2) the direction in which it was travelling, (3) the length of time that has elapsed since it passed, (4) the direction and approximate distance of its headquarters, (5) the nature of its kills, and finally (6) whether the animal has been recently had a meal of human flesh. The value of this easily acquired information to one who is hunting a man-eater on strange ground will be easily understood. Tigers also leave their pugmarks on the roads they use and these pugmarks can provide one with quite a lot of useful information, as for instance the direction and speed at which the animal was travelling, its sex and age, whether all four limbs are sound, and if not sound, which particular limb is defective.
The road I was on had through long disuse got overgrown with short stiff grass and was therefore not, except in one or two damp places was within a few yards of where the road came out on the ridge, and just below this spot there was a green and very stagnant pool of water; a regular drinking place for sambhar”
I found several scratch marks just round the corner where the road turned to the left after leaving the cultivated ground, the most recent of which was three days old. Two hundred yards from these scratch marks on the road, for a third of its width, ran under an overhanging rock. This rock was ten feet high and at the top of it there was a flat piece of ground two or three yards wide, which was only visible from the road when approaching the rock from the village side. On the ridge I found more scratch marks, but I did not find any pugmarks until I got to the first hairpin bend. Here, in cutting across the bend, the tiger had left its trace where it had jumped down onto the same soft earth. The tracks, which were a day old, were a little distorted, but even so it was possible to see that they had been made by a big, old, male tiger.”
[Corbett, Jim. “The Mohan Man-eater” Man-eaters of Kumaon. New Delhi; Oxford University Press, 2012.]
Answer the following questions:
1. What does the narrator learn from his examination of the road?
Answer– The narrator learns several things from his examination of the road including the presence of scratch marks and pugmarks, indicating the regular presence of tigers. The findings suggest that a big, old, male tiger has been using the road and staying in the area for at least three days. Additionally, there is evidence that the tiger has recently fed on human flesh.
2. a. What information does a sportsman receive from a tiger’s scratch marks?
Answer– The scratch marks made by tigers provide the sportsman with useful information such as the gender of the animal, the direction of its travel, the time that has elapsed since it passed, the approximate distance and direction of its headquarters, the nature of its kills, and whether it has recently consumed human flesh.
b. What information do the pug marks provide?
Answer– The pug marks left by tigers on the road provide information about the direction and speed at which the animal was traveling, its gender and age, and whether all four limbs are sound or if any particular limb is defective.
3. Describe the road on which the narrator finds the next set of scratch and pug marks.
Answer– The road on which the narrator finds the next set of scratch and pug marks had become overgrown with short stiff grass due to long disuse. However, in some damp places, the road was still visible. It led to a ridge, and just below that spot, there was a green and stagnant pool of water, which served as a drinking place for sambhar.
4. Give a brief description of the rock visible from the road.
Answer- The rock visible from the road is ten feet high and has a flat piece of ground two or three yards wide at the top. The rock is only visible from the road when approaching it from the village side.
5. What does the narrator determine from the tracks at the hair-pin bend of the rock?
Answer- At the hair-pin bend of the rock, the narrator determines from the tracks that they had been made by a big, old, male tiger. Although the tracks were a day old and slightly distorted, the narrator could still identify them as belonging to a large and mature tiger.
Exercise 3
Read the passage given below and answer the given question:
“Once upon a time there was a widow who had two daughters. She and her elder daughter resembled each other so closely, in appearance and character, that when you saw the daughter, you would have said that it was the mother. They were both so disagreeable and proud that they were impossible to live with. The younger of the daughters, who for gentleness and good manners was the image of her father, was also as beautiful a girl as you could wish to see. Since like attracts like, the mother was excessively fond of the elder daughter, and had a terrible aversion for the younger. She made her eat in the kitchen and work all the time.
Among other things, the poor child was obliged to be a good half-league from the house twice a day to fetch water, and bring back a great big ewer filled on the top. One day, when she was at the spring, a poor woman came up to her, and asked if she could have a drink.
‘Of course you can, good mother’, said this pretty girl, and she rinsed out the ewer, went to fill it at the best spot along the stream, and offered it to the old woman, holding it so that she could drink more easily. When she had had her drink the good woman said to her: ‘You are so fair, so good-natured, and so considerate, that I cannot do otherwise than give you a gift’ (for she was a fairy, who had put on the shape of a poor village woman, in order to see how far the young girl’s kindness and politeness would go).
The fairy continued: ‘The gift that I give you is this: at every word you speak, from your mouth a flower will come, or else a precious stone. When the beautiful daughter arrived home, her mother scolded her for coming back so late from the spring. ‘I beg your pardon, mother, for having taken so long’, said the poor girl; and as she spoke, from her mouth came two roses, two pearls, and two great diamonds. ‘What’s this?’ exclaimed her mother in astonishment; ‘I do believe that those are the pearls coming from her mouth; how can that be daughter?’ (Which was the first time she had ever called the girl daughter). The poor child told her exactly what had happened, producing huge quantities of diamonds as she did so. ‘Really, I must send the other daughter,’ said the mother, ‘come along Florrie, look at what has come from your sister’s mouth when she speaks. Wouldn’t you like to have the same gift? All you have to do is to go and get some water to drink, give her some nicely.”
[Perrault, Charles. “The Fairies” The Complete Fairy Tales. New York; Oxford University Press, 2010]
Answer the following questions:
1. How were the two daughters of the widow different from the other?
Answer- The two daughters of the widow were different from each other and their mother. The elder daughter resembled her mother in appearance and character, being disagreeable and proud. The younger daughter, on the other hand, was gentle, well-mannered, and resembled her father.
2. What obligations did the mother place on the younger daughter?
Answer– The mother placed several obligations on the younger daughter. She made her eat in the kitchen and assigned her continuous work. One of her tasks was to fetch water from a distant spring, carrying a large ewer back to the house.
3. What happens when the younger daughter meets the poor old woman by the stream?
Answer– When the younger daughter meets the poor old woman by the stream, she offers her a drink and fills the ewer with water from the best spot along the stream. Unbeknownst to her, the old woman is a fairy in disguise, testing her kindness and politeness.
4. How is the young daughter gifted by the fairy for her good behaviour?
Answer– As a reward for her good behaviour, the fairy gifts the young daughter with a special ability. From her mouth, every word she speaks will produce either a flower or a precious stone. When she returns home and speaks, two roses, two pearls, and two diamonds come forth from her mouth.
5. a. What does the mother plan to do after she learns of the girl’s gift?
Answer– After learning of the girl’s gift, the mother plans to send the other daughter, to the spring. She wants other daughter to witness her sister’s remarkable ability and hopes to obtain the same gift for her
b. What strikes you about the widow’s nature from your reading of the fairy tale?
Answer– The widow’s nature, as depicted in the fairy tale, is characterized by favouritism, pride, and harsh treatment towards the younger daughter. She shows excessive fondness for the elder daughter and aversion towards the younger one, subjecting her to unfair treatment and assigning her burdensome tasks.
Exercise 4
Read the passage given below and answer the given question:
“I guess that one of the most embarrassing things that can happen to a person is to forget a speech while in front of his audience. Next to forgetting the speech is the embarrassment of faltering along as if you’re not sure of what you have to say. Actually, it seems to me that anyone who is asked to give a talk on any particular subject must know the subject pretty well; otherwise, why would he be asked to talk about it? No; speakers who falter or hesitate during their speeches do so, I think, because they have forgotten the next word-or because they are fearful that they will forget the next word. There, in my opinion, lies the problem. If a speech is memorised word for word, and then a word, here and there, is forgotten; it surely will not be delivered as it should be. Why should you have to grope for one particular word? If you can’t think of it; why, use any other word that serves the same purpose. Isn’t that much better than hemming and hawing until you remember the exact phrasing just the way you memorised it?
The people who realised this felt that the next best thing would be to simply read the speech. This solves the problem of forgetting words, until you lose your place on the paper, and forget what you’re talking about altogether. Besides, it seems to me that there is a subtle annoyance evident in the speech word for word.”
[Text Source: Harry Lorayne’s book How to Develop a Super-Power Memory.]
Answer the following questions:
Q1. What is one of the most embarrassing situations according to the narrator?
Answer– According to the narrator, one of the most embarrassing situations is to forget a speech while in front of an audience.
Q2. Why do speakers hesitate or falter?
Answer– Speakers hesitate or falter because they have either forgotten the next word or they fear forgetting it. The hesitation arises from the concern of not being able to recall the exact wording of the speech.
Q3. What happen if a speech is not memorised word for word?
Answer– If a speech is not memorized word for word and a speaker forgets certain words, it will not be delivered as intended. Instead of struggling to remember the exact phrasing, the narrator suggests using any other word that serves the same purpose, as it is better than hesitating or stumbling through the speech.
Q4. What according to people is the next best thing to do, in case a speaker is not confident?
Answer– According to people, the next best thing to do if a speaker is not confident or fears forgetting words is to simply read the speech. By reading directly from the written text, the speaker can avoid the problem of forgetting words.
Q5. Does this method completely solve the problem of forgetting words while delivering speech?
Answer– No, this method does not completely solve the problem of forgetting words while delivering a speech. Although reading from a written speech helps avoid forgetting specific words, it can introduce other challenges such as losing one’s place on the paper and potentially forgetting the topic or content of the speech altogether. The passage implies that there is a subtle annoyance in delivering a speech word for word, suggesting that alternative approaches may be more effective.
Exercise 5
Read the passage given below and answer the given question:
The great advantage of early rising is that one can start one’s work long before others. The early riser has done a large amount of hard work before other men have got out of bed. Early in the morning the mind is fresh and no sounds or noises disturb our attention. The work done at that time is generally well done. Also, one finds time to take some exercise in the fresh morning air. Exercise supplies him with a good deal of energy that enables him to work hard until the evening. By beginning so early, he knows that he has plenty of time to do his work thoroughly. He does not have to hurry over any part of his work. He gets to sleep long before midnight. At that time sleep is most refreshing. After a night’s sound rest, he rises early next morning in good health ready for the labour of a new day.
Questions:
- What advantages does an early riser have over others?
Answer– An early riser has the advantage of starting their work before others, allowing them to accomplish a significant amount of work before most people even wake up. The early morning hours provide a fresh and undisturbed environment for focused attention. The work done during this time is typical of high quality, and the early riser also has time for exercise to energize themselves for the day.
- Why should one take exercise in the morning and begin one’s work early?
Answer– Taking exercise in the morning is beneficial because it provides the individual with a good amount of energy that enables them to work hard throughout the day. Beginning work early allows for ample time to complete tasks thoroughly, without the need to rush. By starting early, one can make the most of the fresh morning air and optimize their productivity.
- What are the uses of going to sleep long before midnight?
Answer– Going to sleep long before midnight has several uses. Firstly, it allows for a longer duration of restful sleep, ensuring better overall health. Adequate sleep refreshes the body and mind, preparing one for the challenges of the new day. By having a sufficient amount of sleep, the early riser can wake up refreshed and ready for their daily activities.
Exercise 6
Read the passage given below and answer the given question:
In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, there lived a famous Englishman named Sir Walter Raleigh. He was a gentleman of birth, and a favourite with the queen. He was a scholar, a poet, and a brave and daring soldier. He sailed to the New World which we call America, and had many adventures there. He did two useful things: he brought back from America two plants which became very popular with the Europeans. One was
tobacco, the other was the potato. Before his time the potato was unknown in Europe, but it is now one of the commonest foods all over the world. Raleigh first planted potatoes in Ireland; and the potato became to the Irish what wheat is to the Punjabi, and rice is to the Bengalee and the Madras their chief food.
Questions:
- Who was Sir Walter Raleigh?
Answer– Sir Walter Raleigh was a famous Englishman who lived during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. He was a gentleman of birth and held favour with the queen. He was known for his scholarly pursuits, poetry, and his bravery as a soldier. He was the first to introduce tobacco and potato to Europe.
- What is the New World?
Answer– The New World refers to America, which was previously unknown to Europeans before their exploration and colonization.
- What were the two useful things Raleigh did?
Answer- Sir Walter Raleigh did two useful things during his time in the New World. First, he brought back tobacco, which became popular among Europeans. Second, he introduced the potato to Europe, a previously unknown food crop. He planted potatoes in Ireland, where they became a staple food for the Irish.
- What is the importance of the potato?
Answer– The potato holds great importance as a food crop. It has become one of the most common foods worldwide, alongside staples like wheat and rice. The introduction of the potato to Europe by Sir Walter Raleigh had a significant impact, particularly in Ireland, where it became a vital part of the Irish diet.