HS English UNSEEN PASSAGE

 Unseen Passage

Set-1

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow:-

The saving of certain wild animals from extinction has for many years been a problem for zoologists and other specialists; but more recently the problem has become so acute, and has received so much publicity, that most people are now concerned about it. This may at first seem strange because one of the most gratifying developments of the last few years has been the passing of strict laws to protect wild animals and the consequent decline in the hunting of big – game for sport. One reason is the “march of civilization”. When an area is wholly cleared of vegetation to make room for new towns, factory sites or hydroelectric plants, the natural home of several species is destroyed. The displaced must either migrate to another area or perish. Even the clearing of land for a road or an airfield may involve ‘pushing back’ the jungle, and the smaller the area in which wild animals compete for a living the smaller the number that can hope to survive. Civilization brings, too, swift and easy transport and so assists those who are determined to break the various protective laws. Thieves can elude the game wardens, shoot an elephant for its tusks, a rhinoceros for its horn, or a deer for its meat and be miles away from the site of the crime before the dead or dying victim is even discovered. Civilization which brings so many benefits to people brings also facilities for the heartless criminals who, for only material gain, slaughter harmless animals and threaten the disappearance of its kind from the earth forever.

a) State whether the following statements are True or False. Write ‘T’ for Trueand ‘F’ for False.

i) The development of passing strict laws to protect wild animals had not been gratifying.

ii) The ‘march of civilization’ leads to the destruction of several species.

iii) Civilization is a hindrance to the criminals.

iv) Criminals slaughter harmless animals and threaten its extinction only for material gain.

b) Answer each of the following questions in about 30 words:-

i) What has most people become concerned about?

ii) How is ‘march of civilization’ responsible for extinction of animals?

iii) How does civilization help criminals?

Set-2

Read the following passage and answer the questions below:

New Delhi: On a red-letter Wednesday, India triumphed in its very first interplanetary mission, placing a satellite into orbit around Mars and catapulting the country into a three-nation elite club of deep-space explorers. In scenes broadcast live on TV scientists broke into wild cheers as the engines of the orbiter-called the Mangalyaan-completed 24 minutes of burn time to manoeuvre the spacecraft into its designated place around the Red Planet.

"We have gone beyond the boundaries of human enterprise and innovation," PM Narendra Modi, who watched the launch from the Indian Space Research Organization's

command center in Bangalore, said in a live broadcast. "We have navigated our craft through a route known to very few," Modi said patting ISRO chief K Radhakrishnan on

the back and congratulating the scientists and "all my fellow Indians on this historic occasion. He added, "Today MOM has met Mangal (Mars). Today Mangal has got MOM. The time this mission was shortnamed as MOM, I was sure MOM won't disappoint us."

Scientists described the final stages of the Mars Orbiter Mission, affectionately nicknamed MOM, as flawless. The success marks a milestone for the space programme in demonstrating that it can conduct complex missions and act as a global launchpad for commercial, navigational and research satellites.

The MOM is the first successful Mars mission on a maiden attempt by any coun try although the European Space Agency, a consortium of several nations, also did it on its first attempt in 2003,

In doing so, India stole a march over its neighbour and rival, China, which although landed a rover on the moon late last year, has not sent a satellite to Mars Getting a spaceship successfully into orbit around Mars is no easy task. More than half the world's previous attempts-23 out of 41 missions-have failed. India wanted the Mangalyaan to be a global advertisement for its ability in designing, planning and managing a difficult, deep space mission.

MOM is the cheapest such mission, a tenth of NASA's Mars mission and less than the estimated $100 (million) budget of Hollywood blockbuster Gravity.

 A. State whether the following sentences are True or False. Write 'T' for True and F' for False. [You need not write the sentences. Write only the numbers.] [1x4-4]

1. ISRO stands for Indian Space Research Organization.

 2. India is the first country in the world to enter Mars orbit.

3. Our Prime Minister patted ISRO chief and congratulated the scientists.

4. MOM is cheaper than NASA's Mars Mission.

B. Answer each of the following questions in about 30 words: [2x3=6] 

1. Why is Wednesday (24/9/2014) called a red-letter day? 

2. What was the scientists' immediate reaction on getting a spaceship into orbit around Mars? What was the name of the spaceship?

3. How did the scientists describe the final stages of the MOM? What does this successful space programme demonstrate?

Set-3

 Read the following passage and answer the questions below:

Parents, academicians, social workers and doctors are perplexed by growing addiction to drugs among students. In the woeful absence of effective corrective measures by the police or the State Government they fear that the malaise may take on even more serious proportions thereby affecting talent on campus.

Drugs have proved to be the great leveller, recognizing no distinction of class. caste, sex, or intellectual ability. Social workers have reported interesting case histories. They indicate that many students have taken to drugs in an attempt to ape western behaviour or their favourite western idols. One psychologist has informed that school children take to drugs prompted by the desire for a mystical experience. But in some cases, it may be an escape from a jited love affair, parental neglect, disinterest in studies and loneliness. There are some instances of students becoming addicted to drugs in order to become cult figures on campus. There is also pressure from fellow students. Recent reports trickling in from official sources also indicate that many drug pedlars pose as vendors and lace foodstuffs with drugs. Thus many students become addicted without even being aware of it.

The persistent problem of drug addiction now threatens to strangle the student community. There is urgent need to isolate such cases and help the youths return to the academic main stream. And although some social organizations deserve congratulations on their efforts to eradicate the menace, their limited resources have forced them to operate on a very restricted scale. At the same time,many of the victims families cannot afford detoxification treatment. Private nursing homes charge exorbitant sums ranging from Rs 3000/- to Rs. 5000/- depending on the degree of addiction and economic status of the patient.

A. State whether the following sentences are True or False. Write T for True and 'F' for False. [You need not write the sentences. Write only the numbers.]1x4=4]

1. The police have been taking corrective measures against the drug addicts.

2. Females do not take to drugs.

3. Drugs recognize no distinction of class, caste etc.

 4. Many families cannot afford to treat their drug victims.

B. Answer each of the following questions in about 30 words: [2x3=6]

1. What do case histories of social workers indicate?

2. What is the view of the psychologists? 

3. Why can't many families afford the detoxification treatment?