Telangana TSBIE TS Inter 1st Year English Study Material Reading Comprehension Passages from Short Stories Exercise Questions and Answers.
TS Inter 1st Year English Reading Comprehension Passages from Short Stories
Q.No. 6 (4 out of 6 Questions: 4 × 1 = 4)
Comprehension is a very important skill. It refers to the process of understanding the information presented in a written or oral text. In the Intermediate Public Examination (English) the students’ ability to understand a printed text is tested. This is, therefore, classified as ‘reading comprehension’. Understanding a spoken text is known as ‘listening comprehension’.
Comprehension needs a careful study of the given text. Apart from the explicit meaning there may be implicit meanings and inferences.
In the Public examination, questions of various types follow the given text. Understanding the questions properly is as or rather more, important as understanding the text. Reading the questions first, therefore, will be of some help in improving one’s comprehension skills.
Careful observation of the way the given language is used and regular practice will ensure mastering this all important skill-comprehension.
Exercises
Read the following passages and answer the questions given after them.
PLAYING THE GAME
1. Do his best! Of course he would. For Alan was playing in the school cricket match and was mightily proud of being chosen to play. He had practised bowling with his father for weeks now, and Daddy said he was shaping well. Daddy was nearly as excited as Alan over the match and he promised that if Alan’s side won he would buy him a bicycle.
Questions :
i) Do his best ! Of course he would. Who would be doing well ?
ii) What was he proud of ?
iii) How did he practise cricket ?
iv) What was his father’s promise ?
v) Write the antonym of win’.
vi) ‘Daddy was nearly as excited as Alan over the match ‘Here the adverb, ‘nearly’ means … Choose the answer.
a) almost
b) completely
c) quietly
d) happily
vii) What is the informal name of father mentioned in the passage ?
viii) Write the noun form of practise’.
Answers:
i) Alan
ii) He was proud of being chosen to play.
iii) He practised bowling with his father.
iv) Alan’s father promised him that if their side won the match, he would buy him a bicycle.
v) lose
vi) (a) almost
vii) daddy
viii) practice
2. “Where do you live, sir ?” called Alan at last in the old man’s ear.
“Up the road and some way round the corner, “he answered in his thin, weak voice. ” I should be so much obliged if you could see me home. You look a very kind little boy.” See him home ? And they were still a long way off! If only he could walk a little faster. Why, the teams would be already on the field, and the captain would be wondering why he did not come.
Questions :
i) What did Alan ask in the old man’s ear ?
ii) Where was the old man’s house ?
iii) What request did the old man make to Alan ?
iv) Why was Alan in a hurry ?
v) If only he could walk a little faster. Why did Alan want the old man to walk faster ?
vi) Why would the captain be wondering ?
vii) I should be so much obliged if you could see me home. Obliged in the sentence means ………. …………… Choose the answer.
a) forceful
b) thankful
c) polished
d) all the above
viii) Pick out the word from the passage which is the antonym of strong.
Answers:
i) “Where do you live, sir ?”
ii) up the road and some way round the corner.
iii) The old man requested Alan to see him home.
iv) He was in a hurry to reach the ground in time to play in the match.
v) because, he wanted to reach the ground in time
vi) The captain would be wondering why Alan did not come.
vii) (b) thankful
viii) weak
3. And in the classroom next morning the boys gave Alan three loud cheers, as only schoolboys can, for in some mysterious fashion they too had learned all about his kind act.
Questions :
i) From which story is this passage taken ?
ii) Who is the writer of the story from which this passage is taken ?
iii) Where and when did the schoolboys meet ?
iv) What did they do ?
v) Why did the boys give Alan three loud cheers ?
vi) What does the phrase three loud cheers mean ?
vii) How did the boys come to know about Alan’s kind act ?
viii) Pick out the word from the passage which means strange.
Answers:
i) “Playing the Game”
ii) Arthur Henry Mee
iii) in the classroom, the next morning.
iv) They gave Alan three loud cheers.
v) As they learned about Alan’s kind act in some mysterious way.
vi) Compliments conveyed through rhythmic claps in a joyous way
vii) in some mysterious fashion
viii) mysterious
4. “Bravo, Alan,” he said, patting his little son on the back. “But, Daddy,” began Alan. But his father interrupted him. “It’s all right, old man,” he said. “You see, I came up behind that policeman and he told me what had happened. So I knew you were playing the game although it wasn’t on the cricket pitch. So I went back into the High Street and bought the bicycle I promised you. It’s a beauty. And, Alan, we’re proud of you, your Mother and I.” [Revision Test-I]
Questions :
i) Who is the writer of the story from which this passage is taken ?
ii) Why did Alan’s father pat on his back ?
iii) How did Alan’s father come to know what had happened ?
iv) I came up behind that policeman. Did Alan’s father go to the spot where Alan helped the old man ?
v) Alans’ father says, ” ……………….. although it wasn’t on the cricket pitch.” Where did Alan play the game ?
vi) Why did Alan’s father buy the bicycle ?
vii) Why were they proud of Alan ?
viii) When would you use the expression, bravo ?
Answers:
i) Arthur Henry Mee
ii) to encourage and to appreciate what Alan had done
iii) through the policeman behind whom Alan’s father came
iv) Yes.
v) in the real world-in life-on the meadow
vi) to support and appreciate Alan’s service activities
vii) because Alan ‘played the game’ in its true sense
viii) When we want to appreciate someone’s achievement we use the word ‘bravo’.
THE FIVE BOONS OF LIFE
5. The man considered long, then chose Love; and did not mark the tears that rose in the fairy’s eyes.
After many, many years the man sat by a coffin, in an empty home. And he communed with himself, saying : “One by one they have gone away and left me; and now she lies here, the dearest and the last. Desolation after desolation has swept over me; for each hour of happiness the treacherous trader, Love, as sold me I have paid a thousand hours of grief. Out of my heart of hearts I curse him.”
Questions :
i) The man chose the gift Love at once, without thinking. Write true or false.
ii) With whom did the man commune ?
iii) The word rose used as a verb in the passage means came forth. As a noun, it means :
a) stood up
b) a flower
c) a fruit
iv) How is his sadness or loss expressed in the passage ?
v) Whom did the man call a treacherous trader ?
vi) ‘Out of my heart of hearts I curse him’… whom does the word him refer to ?
vii) Find the antonym of the word bless from the passage. ‘
viii) Write the word from the passage which means the box in which a dead body is buried or cremated.
Answers:
i) false
ii) He communed (talked) with himself,
iii) (b) a flower
iv) by saying to himself how love has left him in grief
v) Love
vi) Love
vii) curse
viii) coffin
6. “Choose yet again” It was he fairy’s voice.
“Two gifts remain. And do not despair. In the beginning there was but one that was precious and it is still here”.
“Wealth – which is power ! How blind 1 was !” said the man.
“Now, at last, life will be worth the living. I will spend, squander, dazzle. These mockers and despisers will crawl in the dirt before me, and I will feed my hungry heart with their envy.
Questions :
i) How many gifts had the man already chosen ?
ii) Did the man choose the precious gift before ? How do you know ?
iii) Who does the word I refer to in the sentence, “How blind I was !” ?
iv) With what would his life be worth the living ?
v) How would the man feed his hungry heart ?
vi) The man said that he was blind to the fact. What was the poet ?
vii) What was the man’s real motive in choosing wealth ?
viii) Write the synonym of the word jealousy from the passage.
Answers:
i) three
ii) No. Because the precious gift is still there.
iii) The word T refers to the man, the lead character in the story.
iv) with wealth
v) with the envy of his mockers and despisers.
vi) The fact is that wealth is power.
vii) to make his life worth the living and to make his mockers feel jealous of him.
viii) envy
7. The fairy came, bringing again four of the gifts, but Death was wanting. She said :
‘I gave it to a mother’s pet, a little child. It was innocent, but trusted me, asking me to choose for it. You did not ask me to choose.”
“Oh, miserable me ! What is left for me ?”
“What not even you have deserved: the wanton insult of Old Age.” [Revision Test – II]
Questions :
i) The fairy brought the gift, Death too. Say Yes or No.
ii) Who does the word I refer to ?
iii) What did the fairy give little child ?
iv) What is the epithet used to describe the little child ?
v) The man didn’t repose faith in the fairy. Write true or false.
vi) What was left for the man ?
vii) Write the word from the passage that means very unhappy.
viii) Write the antonymn of the word intelligent from the passage.
Answers:
i) No
ii) The word T refers to the fairy,
iii) Death
iv) a mother’s pet
v) true
vi) not even what he deserved; the wanton insult of old age
vii) miserable
viii) innocent
8. “The years have taught you wisdom-surely it must be so.
Three gifts remain. Only one of them has any worth-remember it, and choose warily.”
The man reflected long, then chose Fame; and the fairy, sighing, went her way.
Years went by and she came again, and stood behind the man where he sat solitary in the fading day, thinking. And she knew his thought. [Model Question Paper]
Questions :
i) Two of the remaining gifts are worthy. Write true or false.
ii) What did the man opt this time ?
iii) Was the fairy happy with his selection ?
iv) Which word in the passage indicates that the man was alone ?
v) Write the synonym of the word renown from the passage.
vi) Write the word from the passage which means disappearing gradually.
Answers:
i) false
ii) fame
iii) No, the fairy was not happy.
iv) solitary
v) fame
vi) fading
THE SHORT-SIGHTED BROTHERS
9. “Three elderly brothers, all very short-sighted, lived in a large house on the outskirts of a city, in China. One day the youngest brother suggested that he should take charge of the finances. “Elder brother’s sight is so bad, he cannot see how much money he’s receiving or giving,” he said, “and people take advantage of his disability.”
Questions :
i) Where did the three brothers live ?
ii) What did the youngest brother propose one day ?
iii) How did the youngest brother support his claim ?
iv) How would people take the eldest brother’s short-sightedness, according to the youngest brother ?
v) Was the youngest brother sincere in his suggestion ?
vi) Their sight problem was negligible. Is it true or false ?
vii) Give the synonym of edge from the passage.
viii) Write a set of antonyms you find in the passage as good is the antonym of bad’.
Answers:
i) in a large house on the outskirts of a city, in China.
ii) that he should take charge of the finances.
iii) That his eldest brother’s sight was so bad that he couldn’t see how much money he was receiving or giving
iv) People would take advantage of the eldest brother’s disability.
v) No. The youngest brother was not sincere.
vi) False. They were all very short-sighted, outskirts
viii) receiving × giving
10. ‘The tablet has a flowery border”. The second brother went away very pleased with himself. Hardly had he gone when the third brother arrived there. He too enquired about the inscription and on being told what it was, asked if there was any other writing on it.” “Only the donor’s name, Wang Lee, at the bottom,” said the monk.
Questions :
i) What did the tablet have for its decoration ?
ii) Who answered the question about its decoration ?
iii) Who was very happy to know about that decoration ?
iv) When did the third brother reach the monastery ?
v) What did the youngest brother want to know particularly ?
vi) Where was the donor’s name mentioned ?
vii) Why was the second brother happy with himself ?
viii) Write the antonym of departed from the passage.
Answers:
i) a flowery border
ii) the monk
iii) the second brother
iv) hardly when the second brother had gone away from the monastery
v) if there was any other writing on the tablet
vi) at the bottom of the tablet
vii) as he thought he alone learnt about the inscription and the flowery decoration
viii) arrived
11. The monk they had talked to the previous evening came out of the monastery just then and walked towards the short sighted brothers.
“Oh you’ve come to see the inscription,” he said. “So sorry. We couldn’t put it up yesterday evening. We are going to put it up today.”
The short-sighted brothers realised their follies.
Questions :
i) When did they all talk to the monk ?
ii) Did each brother know that the others also had talked to the monk ?
iii) Where did the monk go ?
iv) Why did the monk say sorry ?
v) What does the word it refer to?
vi) When were they going to put it up ?
vii) What did the brothers realise ?
viii) They didn’t put up the inscription as originally scheduled. How did it help the brothers ?
Answers:
i) The previous evening
ii) No. They did not know about the others’ visit.
iii) The monk went towards the short-sighted brothers.
iv) Because they couldn’t put up the tablet the previous evening, the monk, said sorry.
v) The word ‘it’ refers to ‘the tablet’.
vi) They were going to put up the tablet that day.
vii) They realised their follies.
viii) It helped the brothers realise their follies.
12. “I have my doubts about that,” said the eldest brother. “Let’s settle this once and for all. I’ve heard the monastery is putting up a tablet inscribed with a saying, above the main doorway, tonight. Let’s go there tomorrow and test our vision. Whoever can read the inscription with the least strain will get charge of our money. Agreed ?” [Revision Test – III]
Questions :
i) Name the story from which this passage is taken.
ii) Who does “I” in the paragraph refer to ?
iii) What did the speaker want to settle once and for all ?
iv) What did the speaker come to know of ?
v) Where should they go to get their vision tested, the following day ?
vi) Who would get the charge of their money, according to the proposal ?
vii) When was the monastery putting up a tablet above their doorway ?
viii) Write the word that is used in the passage that means a place where monks live.
Answers:
i) The Short-sighted Brothers.
ii) “I” in the paragraph refers to the eldest brother.
iii) as to who among the three brothers had a better sight.
iv) of the monastery putting up a tablet inscribed with a saying, above the main doorway, that night.
v) to the monastery
vi) the one who could read the inscription with the least strain
vii) on that night (when this discussion in the story was going on)
viii) monastery
SANGHALA PANTHULU
13. Thus, things were moving happily. But the farmers were perturbed. They observed the lives of people on the other side of the river Krishna ruled by the British and found that people were happy there. There was no drudgery, no penalties-no beatings either. But if the people of Ramasagaram were to migrate to that side leaving the households and assets earned by their ancestors and their caste trades as well, how would they live ?
Questions :
i) “Thus, things were moving happily.” ‘Happily’ to whom ?
ii) What did the farmers observe ?
iii) What did the farmers find out ?
iv) What was the reason for the vast difference in the lives of Ramasagaram people and that of those living on the other side of the river ?
v) Was it possible for the people of Ramasagaram to migrate to the other side of the river ?
vi) Give the word from the passage that means disturbed /worried Anxious .
vii) According to the passage, two groups of persons were happy. Name those two groups.
viii) Write the Noun form of the word migrate.
Answers:
i) moving happily to the police personnel
ii) observed the lives of people on the other side of river Krishna ruled by the Britishers.
iii) found that people on the other side of river Krishna were happy
iv) The reason : Ramasagaram was under the Nizam’s rule and the village on the other side of river Krishna was ruled by the Britishers.
v) No, it was not possible for them to migrate.
vi) ‘perturbed’
vii) the police; the people on the other side of river Krishna
viii) ‘migration’
14. In the evening, about five hundred people gathered under the peepul. Pahthulu explained about the nature of drudgery to all of them. He also taught them legal points. He insisted that nobody should agree to drudgery if wages were not paid. While the meeting was still going or, Ameen Saab arrived pompously on a horse along with eight jawans. “Panthulu, are you aware of the Nizam’s Act number 53 pertaining to patrolling ?!’ asked the Ameen.
Questions :
i) Where did the people assemble ?
ii) What did Panthulu explain to them ?
iii) The villagers meeting under the peepul tree already knew legal points. Say true or false
iv) What did Panthulu insist on ?
v) When did the Ameen Saab come there ?
vi) What did Act number 53 deal with ?
vii) Write the antonym of modestly from the passage.
viii) The passage pictures Panthulu as a man (fill in).
- interested in legal practise
- promoting violence
- committed to the cause of the common man <
- serving the purpose of the police
Answers:
i) under the peepul tree
ii) about the nature of drudgery
iii) false
iv) that nobody should agree to drudgery if wages were not paid
v) while the meeting was still going on
vi) with patrolling
vii) pompously
viii) (3) committed to the cause of the common man
15. After a week, the Mohathemeem arrived. The police didn’t divulge the disgrace they faced. But they recorded that Panthulu had instigated the villagers to revolt by trying to run a parallel government. They also mentioned that if the army was not sent, a great danger was looming large. The Mohathemeem summoned the farmers and inquired with them about the incident.
Questions :
i) Why did the Mohathemeem come to Ramasagaram ?
ii) What did the police hide from the Mohathemeem ?
iii) What did the police charge Panthulu with ?
iv) What did the police request for ?
v) Who did the Mohathemeem call to know more about the incident ?
vi) Write the idiomused in the passage that means something very frightening was certain to happen.
vii) Write the synonym from the passage of called.
viii) Name the part of speech of divulge.
Answers:
i) to inquire into the reported violence
ii) the disgrace the police faced
iii) that Panthulu instigated the villagers to revolt by trying to run a parallel government.
iv) for the army to be sent to the village
v) the farmers
vi) looming large
vii) summoned
viii) verb
16. The news about the arrived of the elderly man from city had spread in the village by morning. The villagers said he was a tall stout man. He helped form associations in villages. He sported a kerchief like lawyers do. He brought a leather suitcase which was full of books. He knew all the bigwigs in the city. He would do away with all our troubles. [Revision Test – IV]
Questions :
i) Name the story from which this passage is taken.
ii) Who does the phrase the elderly man refer to ?
iii) How would the elderly man help the villagers ?
iv) What did he bring with him ?
v) The villagers talked about the elderly man ………………… (fill in).
- adversely
- appreciatively
- accusingly
- arrogantly
vi) Find the Phrasal Verb used in the passage that means put an end to; eliminate.
vii) The word sported as used in this passage means ……………… (fill in).
- game
- athletics
- wore
played
viii) Find the passage the Antonym of lean.
Answers:
i) Sanghala Panthulu
ii) Sanghala Panthulu
iii) He would help the villagers form associations and solve their problems.
iv) a leather suitcase, full of books
v) (2) appreciatively
vi) do(es) away with
vii) (3) wore
viii) stout
THE DINNER PARTY
17. A spirited discussion springs up between a young girl who insists that women have outgrown the jumping-on-a-chair-at-the-sight-of-a-mouse era and a colonel who says that they haven’t. “A woman’s unfailing reaction in any crisis,” the colonel says, “is to scream. And while a man may feel like it, he has that ounce more nerve control than a woman has. And that last ounce is what counts.”
The American does not join in the argument but watches the other guests. As he looks, he sees a strange expression come over the face of the hostess. She is staring straight ahead, her muscles contracting slightly. With a slight gesture, she summons the native boy standing behind her chair and whispers to him. The boy’s eyes widen: he quickly leaves the room. Of the guests, none except the American notices this or sees the boy place a bowl of milk on the veranda just outside the open doors.
Questions :
i) What are the young girl and the colonel arguing about ?
ii) The American joins the discussion. Say true or false.
iii) What does the American naturalist notice ?
iv) What does the hostess want the servant to do ?
v) Identify the synonym of calls from the passage.
vi) Find the antonym of familiar in the passage.
vii) “…………. he has that ounce more nerve control than a woman has. “What does the word nerve mean ?
viii) Pick out the word that fits the meaning of making narrower in the passage.
Answers:
i) about the nerve control of women
ii) false
iii) a strange expression on the face of the hostess
iv) to place a bowl of milk on the veranda just outside the open doors
v) summons
vi) strange
vii) emotions-anxiety
viii) contracting
18. “I want to know just what control everyone at this table has. I will count to three hundred- that’s five minutes-and not one of you is to move a muscle. Those who move will forfeit fifty rupees . Ready !”
The twenty people sit like stone images while he counts. He is saying. two hundred and eighty…” when, out of the corner of his eye, he sees the cobra emerge and make for the bowl of milk. Screams ring out as he jumps to slam the veranda doors safely shut.
‘You were right, Colonel!” the host exclaims. “A man has just shown us an example of perfect control.” “Just a minute,” the American says, turning to his hostess. “Mrs. Wynnes, how did you know that cobra was in the room ?” A faint smile lights up the woman’s face as she replies : “Because it was crawling across my foot.”
Questions :
i) What is the proposal from the American ?
ii) What does the American do to make the guests at the party stay stable ?
iii) Pick out the word which means lose as punishment from the passage.
iv) Pick out the word from the passage that means weak or dull.
v) Why does the American shut the doors ?
vi) How does the American react, when the host gives credit to him for having the most control?
vii) What does the hostess prove to her guests ?
viii) When does the cobra come out ?
Answers:
i) that he will count to three hundred and none of them is to move a muscle
ii) To make, the guests say stable and silent, the naturalist throws a challenge at them.
iii) forfeit
iv) faint
v) for safety, to prevent the snake from coming back again
vi) He asks them to wait and proves to them who really has the nerve control.
vii) The hostess proves to the guests that she has lots of nerve control.
viii) When the naturalist is saying two hundred and eighty.
19. The country is India. A colonial official and his wife are giving a large dinner party. They are seated with their guests-army officers and government attaches and their wives, and a visiting American naturalist-in their spacious dining room, which has a bare marble floor, open rafters and wide glass doors opening onto a veranda. [Revision Test – V]
Questions :
i) In which country is this story set ?
ii) Who is the host of the party ?
iii) Where is the party arranged ?
iv) What is synonym for the word porch in the passage ?
v) Who is the special guest in the party ?
vi) Describe the place where the dinner is hosted.
vii) Write the antonym of narrow from the passage.
viii) Identity the word from the passage that means touring.
Answers:
i) in India
ii) a colonial official and his wife
iii) in the spacious dining room of the hosts
iv) veranda
v) a visiting American naturalist
vi) a spacious dining room with a bare marble floor, open rafters and wide glass doors opening onto a veranda
vii) spacious
viii) visiting