IIFT Mock Test - 9 (New Pattern) - CAT MCQ

For the underlined part of the given sentence, choose the option that is grammatically correct, effective and reduces ambiguity and redundancy.

Charlie Hebdo, a firm supporter of the freedom of expression and important as a periodical in a liberalised world as well, represent the combining of diverse viewpoints.

Select the option which expresses a relationship similar to the one expressed in the capitalized pair.

RESOUNDING : STENTORIAN

The first and last parts of the sentence are marked 1 and 6. The rest of the sentence is split into five parts and marked i, ii, iii, iv and v. These five parts are not given in their proper order. From the options given, please choose the most appropriate order to form a coherent, logical and grammatically correct sentence.

1. Hitchcock, who was fond of bird watching,

iv. two years earlier had visited California,

iii. where on August 18, 1961,

ii. thousands of Puffinus griseus seabirds, called sooty shearwaters,

i. alighted from the northeast to fish,

6. and feast on krill.

Identify the correct sentence.

Pick out the odd option.

Fill the blanks with the word or phrase that completes the idiom/preposition in the given case.

In this office, there is no room to swing a_____.

Fill the blanks with the word or phrase that completes the idiom/preposition in the given case.

The train had left __________ I reached the station.

Read the following sets of four sentences and arrange them in the most logical sequence to form a meaningful and coherent paragraph.

I. This week, China was the site of two crises, one of them fatal, the other more fatalistic.

II. While Tianjin burned, Shanghai's stock exchange stumbled, but the industrial horror eclipses the market's fears.

III. The port city was engulfed in an apocalyptic explosion at a chemical-product storage site earlier this month, and the death toll has risen in recent days to 135, with more than 580 people hospitalized.

IV. The fallout continues.

V. Thousands of displaced residents don't know what they'll return home to - whether the air and water will be safe, and more importantly, whether their neighbourhoods will ever be secure.

Which of the following options has both the words spelled correctly?

Fill in the blanks with the most appropriate option.

In "The Stranger" (published in 1942 in the midst of World War II), Meursault's rejection of religion reflects a view of life as meaningless and absurd, bounded by the_________ fact of death.

For the underlined part of the given sentence, choose the option that is grammatically correct, effective and reduces ambiguity and redundancy.

Each of Camus's novels-The Outsider, The Rebel and The Plague- were existentialist and invigorating novels, very different from the florid and verbose literature of his times.

Select the option which expresses a relationship similar to the one expressed in the capitalized pair.

APPOSITE : RELEVANT

The first and last parts of the sentence are marked 1 and 6. The rest of the sentence is split into five parts and marked i, ii, iii, iv and v. These five parts are not given in their proper order. From the options given, please choose the most appropriate order to form a coherent, logical and grammatically correct sentence.

1. He would forget the joy,

i. in the Siberian forest,

ii. and disbelief of miraculously running into his brother,

iii. just as he would forget the tragedy of losing his brother to pneumonia six month,

iv. while both were imprisoned in separate camps,

6. after they were reunited.

Identify the correct sentence.

Pick out the odd option.

Fill the blanks with the word or phrase that completes the idiom/preposition in the given case.

He got _____ the train as soon as it stopped.

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the following questions.

From time to time, I need my faith in humanity to be restored. Sometimes, I see the world as a cold, dark place where everyone struggles to survive and not many people truly enjoy being alive. Occasionally life is a bleak, unfair monster that haunts us when we close our eyes, and we aren't powerful enough to chase away our subsequent fears. But every once in a while, there are unexpected moments in life that surprise us and fill our stagnant souls with an inexplicable joy and sense of redemption. I got to experience that. I was standing alone at the top of the bleachers. The moment was over in the blink of an eye and at the sound of a buzzer, but it left an imprint on my soul and reminded me that life's lessons often come to fruition when we least expect it.

There were 15.6 seconds left on the clock, and it was senior night, the final home basketball game, the last time those seniors would ever step foot on the court again in front of the home crowd. The entire game had been close, so only the best and most reliable players ever touched the floor. But when the coach was secure in his victory in the final seconds of the game, he allowed the seniors who had not received any playing time to sub in. One of those players was Levi, who never saw much action.

After a missed shot by the opposing team, we rebounded the ball and headed towards our goal in a two-on-one fast break situation. Another guard brought the ball down the floor while Levi sprinted hard down the left side of the court. Aware of the seconds ticking away on the clock and conscious of the moment before him, our player with the ball drove into the paint as Levi spotted up on the wing. He could have easily taken it all the way to the goal, but instead he drew the defender to himself and unselfishly passed the ball off to Levi, ensuring that he got to take the final shot of the last home game.

As the ball rolled off Levi's fingertips, time slowed down, like it often does in Hollywood's most climactic moments. My eyes held steady on the ball's rotation as it got closer and closer to the goal. My entire body tensed, and I held my breath until his perfect shot fell through the net and the sound of the buzzer filled the gym.

In an impromptu display of unabashed excitement, the fans sprung to their feet, threw their hands up in the air, screamed at the top of their lungs, and fell harmoniously into a thundering standing ovation. And when I say fans, I mean every single person in the gym, including the opposing fans. I felt the emotion catch in my throat as my eyes became blurry from witnessing a moment of glory in which goodness is rightfully rewarded and hard work pays off. It wasn't the game-winning shot, but it was the only shot that anyone will remember from that game, maybe from the whole season. You see, Levi, at eighteen years old, is only 4'8" and has difficulty running due to the abnormal outward curvature of his legs.

He left an inner-city school after his freshman year and moved to our rural school system. He became a part of our basketball program as a sophomore, despite his size and athletic limitations. Levi endured the grueling weeks of pre-season conditioning, came to practice every day, and worked just as hard as the starting line-up, who would no doubt receive all of the glory and recognition. He devoted his time and energy and invested his heart and soul into the team, knowing that he would never be a star, that he would never even be a major contributor.

But as time passed, he became a major contributor in other ways... he inspired, motivated, and encouraged his teammates, and in return, they became his biggest fans, his most ardent supporters. They found it almost impossible to have a bad day or display negativity when he was around, because his smile, his positive attitude, and his work ethic were all undeniably contagious. Before every game when emotions and adrenaline were running high, he was in the center of the huddle offering enthusiastic words of inspiration. On the bench, he was the most fervent cheerleader and a keen observer of every play in the game. Though he wasn't physically on the floor, his mind was always right in the midst of the action, experiencing the game vicariously. His love for basketball was deep, and he had the heart of a true athlete, the kind every coach wishes all of his or her players possessed. However, his heart was just surrounded by a smaller than normal, non-athletic body.

Over the past three years, Levi has been both a student and a teacher, yet he was unaware that we were learning something from him, that he was schooling us all in the game of life. It was just the last shot, and not even a game-changing one, but his moment of glory was full of lessons:

i). Don't let any limitation stop you from doing what you love.

ii). When you set out to do something, whether big or small, do it to the best of your ability -- not because you desire accolades or fame, but because the self-rewards are far greater.

iii). Never give up. Never back down. Never make excuses.

iv). Perseverance, heart, and attitude are more important than size, ability, and opportunity.

v). Not only do hard work and dedication make you a better person -- they inspire those around you to be better too.

vi). When you are positive and lift up other people, allowing them to shine, the brilliance of their light often reflects back upon you.

What a different place the world would be if we all approached life with that mind set. Perhaps we would discover that our own fears and obstacles are not so big after all. Maybe we would realize that no matter how small we may seem, we still have the power to change the world.

Q. Identify the correct statement.

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the following questions.

From time to time, I need my faith in humanity to be restored. Sometimes, I see the world as a cold, dark place where everyone struggles to survive and not many people truly enjoy being alive. Occasionally life is a bleak, unfair monster that haunts us when we close our eyes, and we aren't powerful enough to chase away our subsequent fears. But every once in a while, there are unexpected moments in life that surprise us and fill our stagnant souls with an inexplicable joy and sense of redemption. I got to experience that. I was standing alone at the top of the bleachers. The moment was over in the blink of an eye and at the sound of a buzzer, but it left an imprint on my soul and reminded me that life's lessons often come to fruition when we least expect it.

There were 15.6 seconds left on the clock, and it was senior night, the final home basketball game, the last time those seniors would ever step foot on the court again in front of the home crowd. The entire game had been close, so only the best and most reliable players ever touched the floor. But when the coach was secure in his victory in the final seconds of the game, he allowed the seniors who had not received any playing time to sub in. One of those players was Levi, who never saw much action.

After a missed shot by the opposing team, we rebounded the ball and headed towards our goal in a two-on-one fast break situation. Another guard brought the ball down the floor while Levi sprinted hard down the left side of the court. Aware of the seconds ticking away on the clock and conscious of the moment before him, our player with the ball drove into the paint as Levi spotted up on the wing. He could have easily taken it all the way to the goal, but instead he drew the defender to himself and unselfishly passed the ball off to Levi, ensuring that he got to take the final shot of the last home game.

As the ball rolled off Levi's fingertips, time slowed down, like it often does in Hollywood's most climactic moments. My eyes held steady on the ball's rotation as it got closer and closer to the goal. My entire body tensed, and I held my breath until his perfect shot fell through the net and the sound of the buzzer filled the gym.

In an impromptu display of unabashed excitement, the fans sprung to their feet, threw their hands up in the air, screamed at the top of their lungs, and fell harmoniously into a thundering standing ovation. And when I say fans, I mean every single person in the gym, including the opposing fans. I felt the emotion catch in my throat as my eyes became blurry from witnessing a moment of glory in which goodness is rightfully rewarded and hard work pays off. It wasn't the game-winning shot, but it was the only shot that anyone will remember from that game, maybe from the whole season. You see, Levi, at eighteen years old, is only 4'8" and has difficulty running due to the abnormal outward curvature of his legs.

He left an inner-city school after his freshman year and moved to our rural school system. He became a part of our basketball program as a sophomore, despite his size and athletic limitations. Levi endured the grueling weeks of pre-season conditioning, came to practice every day, and worked just as hard as the starting line-up, who would no doubt receive all of the glory and recognition. He devoted his time and energy and invested his heart and soul into the team, knowing that he would never be a star, that he would never even be a major contributor.

But as time passed, he became a major contributor in other ways... he inspired, motivated, and encouraged his teammates, and in return, they became his biggest fans, his most ardent supporters. They found it almost impossible to have a bad day or display negativity when he was around, because his smile, his positive attitude, and his work ethic were all undeniably contagious. Before every game when emotions and adrenaline were running high, he was in the center of the huddle offering enthusiastic words of inspiration. On the bench, he was the most fervent cheerleader and a keen observer of every play in the game. Though he wasn't physically on the floor, his mind was always right in the midst of the action, experiencing the game vicariously. His love for basketball was deep, and he had the heart of a true athlete, the kind every coach wishes all of his or her players possessed. However, his heart was just surrounded by a smaller than normal, non-athletic body.

Over the past three years, Levi has been both a student and a teacher, yet he was unaware that we were learning something from him, that he was schooling us all in the game of life. It was just the last shot, and not even a game-changing one, but his moment of glory was full of lessons:

i). Don't let any limitation stop you from doing what you love.

ii). When you set out to do something, whether big or small, do it to the best of your ability -- not because you desire accolades or fame, but because the self-rewards are far greater.

iii). Never give up. Never back down. Never make excuses.

iv). Perseverance, heart, and attitude are more important than size, ability, and opportunity.

v). Not only do hard work and dedication make you a better person -- they inspire those around you to be better too.

vi). When you are positive and lift up other people, allowing them to shine, the brilliance of their light often reflects back upon you.

What a different place the world would be if we all approached life with that mind set. Perhaps we would discover that our own fears and obstacles are not so big after all. Maybe we would realize that no matter how small we may seem, we still have the power to change the world.

Q. Identify the incorrect statement.

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the following questions.

From time to time, I need my faith in humanity to be restored. Sometimes, I see the world as a cold, dark place where everyone struggles to survive and not many people truly enjoy being alive. Occasionally life is a bleak, unfair monster that haunts us when we close our eyes, and we aren't powerful enough to chase away our subsequent fears. But every once in a while, there are unexpected moments in life that surprise us and fill our stagnant souls with an inexplicable joy and sense of redemption. I got to experience that. I was standing alone at the top of the bleachers. The moment was over in the blink of an eye and at the sound of a buzzer, but it left an imprint on my soul and reminded me that life's lessons often come to fruition when we least expect it.

There were 15.6 seconds left on the clock, and it was senior night, the final home basketball game, the last time those seniors would ever step foot on the court again in front of the home crowd. The entire game had been close, so only the best and most reliable players ever touched the floor. But when the coach was secure in his victory in the final seconds of the game, he allowed the seniors who had not received any playing time to sub in. One of those players was Levi, who never saw much action.

After a missed shot by the opposing team, we rebounded the ball and headed towards our goal in a two-on-one fast break situation. Another guard brought the ball down the floor while Levi sprinted hard down the left side of the court. Aware of the seconds ticking away on the clock and conscious of the moment before him, our player with the ball drove into the paint as Levi spotted up on the wing. He could have easily taken it all the way to the goal, but instead he drew the defender to himself and unselfishly passed the ball off to Levi, ensuring that he got to take the final shot of the last home game.

As the ball rolled off Levi's fingertips, time slowed down, like it often does in Hollywood's most climactic moments. My eyes held steady on the ball's rotation as it got closer and closer to the goal. My entire body tensed, and I held my breath until his perfect shot fell through the net and the sound of the buzzer filled the gym.

In an impromptu display of unabashed excitement, the fans sprung to their feet, threw their hands up in the air, screamed at the top of their lungs, and fell harmoniously into a thundering standing ovation. And when I say fans, I mean every single person in the gym, including the opposing fans. I felt the emotion catch in my throat as my eyes became blurry from witnessing a moment of glory in which goodness is rightfully rewarded and hard work pays off. It wasn't the game-winning shot, but it was the only shot that anyone will remember from that game, maybe from the whole season. You see, Levi, at eighteen years old, is only 4'8" and has difficulty running due to the abnormal outward curvature of his legs.

He left an inner-city school after his freshman year and moved to our rural school system. He became a part of our basketball program as a sophomore, despite his size and athletic limitations. Levi endured the grueling weeks of pre-season conditioning, came to practice every day, and worked just as hard as the starting line-up, who would no doubt receive all of the glory and recognition. He devoted his time and energy and invested his heart and soul into the team, knowing that he would never be a star, that he would never even be a major contributor.

But as time passed, he became a major contributor in other ways... he inspired, motivated, and encouraged his teammates, and in return, they became his biggest fans, his most ardent supporters. They found it almost impossible to have a bad day or display negativity when he was around, because his smile, his positive attitude, and his work ethic were all undeniably contagious. Before every game when emotions and adrenaline were running high, he was in the center of the huddle offering enthusiastic words of inspiration. On the bench, he was the most fervent cheerleader and a keen observer of every play in the game. Though he wasn't physically on the floor, his mind was always right in the midst of the action, experiencing the game vicariously. His love for basketball was deep, and he had the heart of a true athlete, the kind every coach wishes all of his or her players possessed. However, his heart was just surrounded by a smaller than normal, non-athletic body.

Over the past three years, Levi has been both a student and a teacher, yet he was unaware that we were learning something from him, that he was schooling us all in the game of life. It was just the last shot, and not even a game-changing one, but his moment of glory was full of lessons:

i). Don't let any limitation stop you from doing what you love.

ii). When you set out to do something, whether big or small, do it to the best of your ability -- not because you desire accolades or fame, but because the self-rewards are far greater.

iii). Never give up. Never back down. Never make excuses.

iv). Perseverance, heart, and attitude are more important than size, ability, and opportunity.

v). Not only do hard work and dedication make you a better person -- they inspire those around you to be better too.

vi). When you are positive and lift up other people, allowing them to shine, the brilliance of their light often reflects back upon you.

What a different place the world would be if we all approached life with that mind set. Perhaps we would discover that our own fears and obstacles are not so big after all. Maybe we would realize that no matter how small we may seem, we still have the power to change the world.

Q. It can be deduced from the passage that:

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the following questions.

From time to time, I need my faith in humanity to be restored. Sometimes, I see the world as a cold, dark place where everyone struggles to survive and not many people truly enjoy being alive. Occasionally life is a bleak, unfair monster that haunts us when we close our eyes, and we aren't powerful enough to chase away our subsequent fears. But every once in a while, there are unexpected moments in life that surprise us and fill our stagnant souls with an inexplicable joy and sense of redemption. I got to experience that. I was standing alone at the top of the bleachers. The moment was over in the blink of an eye and at the sound of a buzzer, but it left an imprint on my soul and reminded me that life's lessons often come to fruition when we least expect it.

There were 15.6 seconds left on the clock, and it was senior night, the final home basketball game, the last time those seniors would ever step foot on the court again in front of the home crowd. The entire game had been close, so only the best and most reliable players ever touched the floor. But when the coach was secure in his victory in the final seconds of the game, he allowed the seniors who had not received any playing time to sub in. One of those players was Levi, who never saw much action.

After a missed shot by the opposing team, we rebounded the ball and headed towards our goal in a two-on-one fast break situation. Another guard brought the ball down the floor while Levi sprinted hard down the left side of the court. Aware of the seconds ticking away on the clock and conscious of the moment before him, our player with the ball drove into the paint as Levi spotted up on the wing. He could have easily taken it all the way to the goal, but instead he drew the defender to himself and unselfishly passed the ball off to Levi, ensuring that he got to take the final shot of the last home game.

As the ball rolled off Levi's fingertips, time slowed down, like it often does in Hollywood's most climactic moments. My eyes held steady on the ball's rotation as it got closer and closer to the goal. My entire body tensed, and I held my breath until his perfect shot fell through the net and the sound of the buzzer filled the gym.

In an impromptu display of unabashed excitement, the fans sprung to their feet, threw their hands up in the air, screamed at the top of their lungs, and fell harmoniously into a thundering standing ovation. And when I say fans, I mean every single person in the gym, including the opposing fans. I felt the emotion catch in my throat as my eyes became blurry from witnessing a moment of glory in which goodness is rightfully rewarded and hard work pays off. It wasn't the game-winning shot, but it was the only shot that anyone will remember from that game, maybe from the whole season. You see, Levi, at eighteen years old, is only 4'8" and has difficulty running due to the abnormal outward curvature of his legs.

He left an inner-city school after his freshman year and moved to our rural school system. He became a part of our basketball program as a sophomore, despite his size and athletic limitations. Levi endured the grueling weeks of pre-season conditioning, came to practice every day, and worked just as hard as the starting line-up, who would no doubt receive all of the glory and recognition. He devoted his time and energy and invested his heart and soul into the team, knowing that he would never be a star, that he would never even be a major contributor.

But as time passed, he became a major contributor in other ways... he inspired, motivated, and encouraged his teammates, and in return, they became his biggest fans, his most ardent supporters. They found it almost impossible to have a bad day or display negativity when he was around, because his smile, his positive attitude, and his work ethic were all undeniably contagious. Before every game when emotions and adrenaline were running high, he was in the center of the huddle offering enthusiastic words of inspiration. On the bench, he was the most fervent cheerleader and a keen observer of every play in the game. Though he wasn't physically on the floor, his mind was always right in the midst of the action, experiencing the game vicariously. His love for basketball was deep, and he had the heart of a true athlete, the kind every coach wishes all of his or her players possessed. However, his heart was just surrounded by a smaller than normal, non-athletic body.

Over the past three years, Levi has been both a student and a teacher, yet he was unaware that we were learning something from him, that he was schooling us all in the game of life. It was just the last shot, and not even a game-changing one, but his moment of glory was full of lessons:

i). Don't let any limitation stop you from doing what you love.

ii). When you set out to do something, whether big or small, do it to the best of your ability -- not because you desire accolades or fame, but because the self-rewards are far greater.

iii). Never give up. Never back down. Never make excuses.

iv). Perseverance, heart, and attitude are more important than size, ability, and opportunity.

v). Not only do hard work and dedication make you a better person -- they inspire those around you to be better too.

vi). When you are positive and lift up other people, allowing them to shine, the brilliance of their light often reflects back upon you.

What a different place the world would be if we all approached life with that mind set. Perhaps we would discover that our own fears and obstacles are not so big after all. Maybe we would realize that no matter how small we may seem, we still have the power to change the world.

Q. According to the author of the passage:

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the following questions.

From time to time, I need my faith in humanity to be restored. Sometimes, I see the world as a cold, dark place where everyone struggles to survive and not many people truly enjoy being alive. Occasionally life is a bleak, unfair monster that haunts us when we close our eyes, and we aren't powerful enough to chase away our subsequent fears. But every once in a while, there are unexpected moments in life that surprise us and fill our stagnant souls with an inexplicable joy and sense of redemption. I got to experience that. I was standing alone at the top of the bleachers. The moment was over in the blink of an eye and at the sound of a buzzer, but it left an imprint on my soul and reminded me that life's lessons often come to fruition when we least expect it.

There were 15.6 seconds left on the clock, and it was senior night, the final home basketball game, the last time those seniors would ever step foot on the court again in front of the home crowd. The entire game had been close, so only the best and most reliable players ever touched the floor. But when the coach was secure in his victory in the final seconds of the game, he allowed the seniors who had not received any playing time to sub in. One of those players was Levi, who never saw much action.

After a missed shot by the opposing team, we rebounded the ball and headed towards our goal in a two-on-one fast break situation. Another guard brought the ball down the floor while Levi sprinted hard down the left side of the court. Aware of the seconds ticking away on the clock and conscious of the moment before him, our player with the ball drove into the paint as Levi spotted up on the wing. He could have easily taken it all the way to the goal, but instead he drew the defender to himself and unselfishly passed the ball off to Levi, ensuring that he got to take the final shot of the last home game.

As the ball rolled off Levi's fingertips, time slowed down, like it often does in Hollywood's most climactic moments. My eyes held steady on the ball's rotation as it got closer and closer to the goal. My entire body tensed, and I held my breath until his perfect shot fell through the net and the sound of the buzzer filled the gym.

In an impromptu display of unabashed excitement, the fans sprung to their feet, threw their hands up in the air, screamed at the top of their lungs, and fell harmoniously into a thundering standing ovation. And when I say fans, I mean every single person in the gym, including the opposing fans. I felt the emotion catch in my throat as my eyes became blurry from witnessing a moment of glory in which goodness is rightfully rewarded and hard work pays off. It wasn't the game-winning shot, but it was the only shot that anyone will remember from that game, maybe from the whole season. You see, Levi, at eighteen years old, is only 4'8" and has difficulty running due to the abnormal outward curvature of his legs.

He left an inner-city school after his freshman year and moved to our rural school system. He became a part of our basketball program as a sophomore, despite his size and athletic limitations. Levi endured the grueling weeks of pre-season conditioning, came to practice every day, and worked just as hard as the starting line-up, who would no doubt receive all of the glory and recognition. He devoted his time and energy and invested his heart and soul into the team, knowing that he would never be a star, that he would never even be a major contributor.

But as time passed, he became a major contributor in other ways... he inspired, motivated, and encouraged his teammates, and in return, they became his biggest fans, his most ardent supporters. They found it almost impossible to have a bad day or display negativity when he was around, because his smile, his positive attitude, and his work ethic were all undeniably contagious. Before every game when emotions and adrenaline were running high, he was in the center of the huddle offering enthusiastic words of inspiration. On the bench, he was the most fervent cheerleader and a keen observer of every play in the game. Though he wasn't physically on the floor, his mind was always right in the midst of the action, experiencing the game vicariously. His love for basketball was deep, and he had the heart of a true athlete, the kind every coach wishes all of his or her players possessed. However, his heart was just surrounded by a smaller than normal, non-athletic body.

Over the past three years, Levi has been both a student and a teacher, yet he was unaware that we were learning something from him, that he was schooling us all in the game of life. It was just the last shot, and not even a game-changing one, but his moment of glory was full of lessons:

i). Don't let any limitation stop you from doing what you love.

ii). When you set out to do something, whether big or small, do it to the best of your ability -- not because you desire accolades or fame, but because the self-rewards are far greater.

iii). Never give up. Never back down. Never make excuses.

iv). Perseverance, heart, and attitude are more important than size, ability, and opportunity.

v). Not only do hard work and dedication make you a better person -- they inspire those around you to be better too.

vi). When you are positive and lift up other people, allowing them to shine, the brilliance of their light often reflects back upon you.

What a different place the world would be if we all approached life with that mind set. Perhaps we would discover that our own fears and obstacles are not so big after all. Maybe we would realize that no matter how small we may seem, we still have the power to change the world.

Q. An apt title for the passage will be:

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the following questions.

It was in 1590 - winter. Austria was far away from the world, and asleep; it was still the Middle Ages in Austria, and promised to remain so forever. Some even set it away back centuries upon centuries and said that by the mental and spiritual clock it was still the Age of Belief in Austria. But they meant it as a compliment, not a slur, and it was so taken, and we were all proud of it. I remember it well, although I was only a boy; and I remember, too, the pleasure it gave me.

Yes, Austria was far from the world, and asleep, and our village was in the middle of that sleep, being in the middle of Austria. It drowsed in peace in the deep privacy of a hilly and woodsy solitude where news from the world hardly ever came to disturb its dreams, and was infinitely content. At its front flowed the tranquil river, its surface painted with cloud-forms and the reflections of drifting arks and stone-boats; behind it rose the woody steeps to the base of the lofty precipice; from the top of the precipice frowned a vast castle, its long stretch of towers and bastions mailed in vines; beyond the river, a league to the left, was a tumbled expanse of forest-clothed hills cloven by winding gorges where the sun never penetrated; and to the right a precipice overlooked the river, and between it and the hills just spoken of lay a far-reaching plain dotted with little homesteads nested among orchards and shade trees.

The whole region for leagues around was the hereditary property of a prince, whose servants kept the castle always in perfect condition for occupancy, but neither he nor his family came there oftener than once in five years. When they came it was as if the lord of the world had arrived, and had brought all the glories of its kingdoms along; and when they went they left a calm behind which was like the deep sleep which follows an orgy.

Eseldorf was a paradise for us boys. We were not overmuch pestered with schooling. Mainly we were trained to be good Christians; to revere the Virgin, the Church, and the saints above everything. Beyond these matters we were not required to know much; and, in fact, not allowed to. Knowledge was not good for the common people, and could make them discontented with the lot which God had appointed for them, and God would not endure discontentment with His plans. We had two priests. One of them, Father Adolf, was a very zealous and strenuous priest, much considered.

There may have been better priests, in some ways, than Father Adolf, but there was never one in our commune who was held in more solemn and awful respect. This was because he had absolutely no fear of the Devil. He was the only Christian I have ever known of whom that could be truly said. People stood in deep dread of him on that account; for they thought that there must be something supernatural about him, else he could not be so bold and so confident. All men speak in bitter disapproval of the Devil, but they do it reverently, not flippantly; but Father Adolf's way was very different; he called him by every name he could lay his tongue to, and it made everyone shudder that heard him; and often he would even speak of him scornfully and scoffingly; then the people crossed themselves and went quickly out of his presence, fearing that something fearful might happen.

Father Adolf had actually met Satan face to face more than once, and defied him. This was known to be so. Father Adolf said it himself. He never made any secret of it, but spoke it right out. And that he was speaking true there was proof in at least one instance, for on that occasion he quarreled with the enemy, and intrepidly threw his bottle at him; and there, upon the wall of his study, was the ruddy splotch where it struck and broke. But it was Father Peter, the other priest, that we all loved best and were sorriest for. Some people charged him with talking around in conversation that God was all goodness and would find a way to save all his poor human children. It was a horrible thing to say, but there was never any absolute proof that Father Peter said it; and it was out of character for him to say it, too, for he was always good and gentle and truthful. He wasn't charged with saying it in the pulpit, where all the congregation could hear and testify, but only outside, in talk; and it is easy for enemies to manufacture that. Father Peter had an enemy and a very powerful one, the astrologer who lived in a tumbled old tower up the valley, and put in his nights studying the stars. Everyone knew he could foretell wars and famines, though that was not so hard, for there was always a war, and generally a famine somewhere. But he could also read any man's life through the stars in a big book he had, and find lost property, and everyone in the village except Father Peter stood in awe of him. Even Father Adolf, who had defied the Devil, had a wholesome respect for the astrologer when he came through our village wearing his tall, pointed hat and his long, flowing robe with stars on it, carrying his big book, and a staff which was known to have magic power. The bishop himself sometimes listened to the astrologer, it was said, for, besides studying the stars and prophesying, the astrologer made a great show of piety, which would impress the bishop, of course.

But Father Peter took no stock in the astrologer. He denounced him openly as a charlatan - a fraud with no valuable knowledge of any kind, or powers beyond those of an ordinary and rather inferior human being, which naturally made the astrologer hate Father Peter and wish to ruin him. It was the astrologer, as we all believed, who originated the story about Father Peter's shocking remark and carried it to the bishop. It was said that Father Peter had made the remark to his niece, Marget, though Marget denied it and implored the bishop to believe her and spare her old uncle from poverty and disgrace. But the bishop wouldn't listen. He suspended Father Peter indefinitely, though he wouldn't go so far as to excommunicate him on the evidence of only one witness; and now Father Peter had been out a couple of years, and our other priest, Father Adolf, had his flock.

Those had been hard years for the old priest and Marget. They had been favorites, but of course that changed when they came under the shadow of the bishop's frown. Many of their friends fell away entirely, and the rest became cool and distant. Marget was a lovely girl of eighteen when the trouble came, and she had the best head in the village, and the most in it. She taught the harp, and earned all her clothes and pocket money by her own industry. But her scholars fell off one by one now; she was forgotten when there were dances and parties among the youth of the village; the young fellows stopped coming to the house, all except Wilhelm Meidling - and he could have been spared; she and her uncle were sad and forlorn in their neglect and disgrace, and the sunshine was gone out of their lives. Matters went worse and worse, all through the two years. Clothes were wearing out, bread was harder and harder to get. And now, at last, the very end was come. Solomon Isaacs had lent all the money he was willing to put on the house, and gave notice that to-morrow he would foreclose.

Q. Match the following:

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the following questions.

It was in 1590 - winter. Austria was far away from the world, and asleep; it was still the Middle Ages in Austria, and promised to remain so forever. Some even set it away back centuries upon centuries and said that by the mental and spiritual clock it was still the Age of Belief in Austria. But they meant it as a compliment, not a slur, and it was so taken, and we were all proud of it. I remember it well, although I was only a boy; and I remember, too, the pleasure it gave me.

Yes, Austria was far from the world, and asleep, and our village was in the middle of that sleep, being in the middle of Austria. It drowsed in peace in the deep privacy of a hilly and woodsy solitude where news from the world hardly ever came to disturb its dreams, and was infinitely content. At its front flowed the tranquil river, its surface painted with cloud-forms and the reflections of drifting arks and stone-boats; behind it rose the woody steeps to the base of the lofty precipice; from the top of the precipice frowned a vast castle, its long stretch of towers and bastions mailed in vines; beyond the river, a league to the left, was a tumbled expanse of forest-clothed hills cloven by winding gorges where the sun never penetrated; and to the right a precipice overlooked the river, and between it and the hills just spoken of lay a far-reaching plain dotted with little homesteads nested among orchards and shade trees.

The whole region for leagues around was the hereditary property of a prince, whose servants kept the castle always in perfect condition for occupancy, but neither he nor his family came there oftener than once in five years. When they came it was as if the lord of the world had arrived, and had brought all the glories of its kingdoms along; and when they went they left a calm behind which was like the deep sleep which follows an orgy.

Eseldorf was a paradise for us boys. We were not overmuch pestered with schooling. Mainly we were trained to be good Christians; to revere the Virgin, the Church, and the saints above everything. Beyond these matters we were not required to know much; and, in fact, not allowed to. Knowledge was not good for the common people, and could make them discontented with the lot which God had appointed for them, and God would not endure discontentment with His plans. We had two priests. One of them, Father Adolf, was a very zealous and strenuous priest, much considered.

There may have been better priests, in some ways, than Father Adolf, but there was never one in our commune who was held in more solemn and awful respect. This was because he had absolutely no fear of the Devil. He was the only Christian I have ever known of whom that could be truly said. People stood in deep dread of him on that account; for they thought that there must be something supernatural about him, else he could not be so bold and so confident. All men speak in bitter disapproval of the Devil, but they do it reverently, not flippantly; but Father Adolf's way was very different; he called him by every name he could lay his tongue to, and it made everyone shudder that heard him; and often he would even speak of him scornfully and scoffingly; then the people crossed themselves and went quickly out of his presence, fearing that something fearful might happen.

Father Adolf had actually met Satan face to face more than once, and defied him. This was known to be so. Father Adolf said it himself. He never made any secret of it, but spoke it right out. And that he was speaking true there was proof in at least one instance, for on that occasion he quarreled with the enemy, and intrepidly threw his bottle at him; and there, upon the wall of his study, was the ruddy splotch where it struck and broke. But it was Father Peter, the other priest, that we all loved best and were sorriest for. Some people charged him with talking around in conversation that God was all goodness and would find a way to save all his poor human children. It was a horrible thing to say, but there was never any absolute proof that Father Peter said it; and it was out of character for him to say it, too, for he was always good and gentle and truthful. He wasn't charged with saying it in the pulpit, where all the congregation could hear and testify, but only outside, in talk; and it is easy for enemies to manufacture that. Father Peter had an enemy and a very powerful one, the astrologer who lived in a tumbled old tower up the valley, and put in his nights studying the stars. Everyone knew he could foretell wars and famines, though that was not so hard, for there was always a war, and generally a famine somewhere. But he could also read any man's life through the stars in a big book he had, and find lost property, and everyone in the village except Father Peter stood in awe of him. Even Father Adolf, who had defied the Devil, had a wholesome respect for the astrologer when he came through our village wearing his tall, pointed hat and his long, flowing robe with stars on it, carrying his big book, and a staff which was known to have magic power. The bishop himself sometimes listened to the astrologer, it was said, for, besides studying the stars and prophesying, the astrologer made a great show of piety, which would impress the bishop, of course.

But Father Peter took no stock in the astrologer. He denounced him openly as a charlatan - a fraud with no valuable knowledge of any kind, or powers beyond those of an ordinary and rather inferior human being, which naturally made the astrologer hate Father Peter and wish to ruin him. It was the astrologer, as we all believed, who originated the story about Father Peter's shocking remark and carried it to the bishop. It was said that Father Peter had made the remark to his niece, Marget, though Marget denied it and implored the bishop to believe her and spare her old uncle from poverty and disgrace. But the bishop wouldn't listen. He suspended Father Peter indefinitely, though he wouldn't go so far as to excommunicate him on the evidence of only one witness; and now Father Peter had been out a couple of years, and our other priest, Father Adolf, had his flock.

Those had been hard years for the old priest and Marget. They had been favorites, but of course that changed when they came under the shadow of the bishop's frown. Many of their friends fell away entirely, and the rest became cool and distant. Marget was a lovely girl of eighteen when the trouble came, and she had the best head in the village, and the most in it. She taught the harp, and earned all her clothes and pocket money by her own industry. But her scholars fell off one by one now; she was forgotten when there were dances and parties among the youth of the village; the young fellows stopped coming to the house, all except Wilhelm Meidling - and he could have been spared; she and her uncle were sad and forlorn in their neglect and disgrace, and the sunshine was gone out of their lives. Matters went worse and worse, all through the two years. Clothes were wearing out, bread was harder and harder to get. And now, at last, the very end was come. Solomon Isaacs had lent all the money he was willing to put on the house, and gave notice that to-morrow he would foreclose.

Q. What happened when the Prince came to the village?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the following questions.

It was in 1590 - winter. Austria was far away from the world, and asleep; it was still the Middle Ages in Austria, and promised to remain so forever. Some even set it away back centuries upon centuries and said that by the mental and spiritual clock it was still the Age of Belief in Austria. But they meant it as a compliment, not a slur, and it was so taken, and we were all proud of it. I remember it well, although I was only a boy; and I remember, too, the pleasure it gave me.

Yes, Austria was far from the world, and asleep, and our village was in the middle of that sleep, being in the middle of Austria. It drowsed in peace in the deep privacy of a hilly and woodsy solitude where news from the world hardly ever came to disturb its dreams, and was infinitely content. At its front flowed the tranquil river, its surface painted with cloud-forms and the reflections of drifting arks and stone-boats; behind it rose the woody steeps to the base of the lofty precipice; from the top of the precipice frowned a vast castle, its long stretch of towers and bastions mailed in vines; beyond the river, a league to the left, was a tumbled expanse of forest-clothed hills cloven by winding gorges where the sun never penetrated; and to the right a precipice overlooked the river, and between it and the hills just spoken of lay a far-reaching plain dotted with little homesteads nested among orchards and shade trees.

The whole region for leagues around was the hereditary property of a prince, whose servants kept the castle always in perfect condition for occupancy, but neither he nor his family came there oftener than once in five years. When they came it was as if the lord of the world had arrived, and had brought all the glories of its kingdoms along; and when they went they left a calm behind which was like the deep sleep which follows an orgy.

Eseldorf was a paradise for us boys. We were not overmuch pestered with schooling. Mainly we were trained to be good Christians; to revere the Virgin, the Church, and the saints above everything. Beyond these matters we were not required to know much; and, in fact, not allowed to. Knowledge was not good for the common people, and could make them discontented with the lot which God had appointed for them, and God would not endure discontentment with His plans. We had two priests. One of them, Father Adolf, was a very zealous and strenuous priest, much considered.

There may have been better priests, in some ways, than Father Adolf, but there was never one in our commune who was held in more solemn and awful respect. This was because he had absolutely no fear of the Devil. He was the only Christian I have ever known of whom that could be truly said. People stood in deep dread of him on that account; for they thought that there must be something supernatural about him, else he could not be so bold and so confident. All men speak in bitter disapproval of the Devil, but they do it reverently, not flippantly; but Father Adolf's way was very different; he called him by every name he could lay his tongue to, and it made everyone shudder that heard him; and often he would even speak of him scornfully and scoffingly; then the people crossed themselves and went quickly out of his presence, fearing that something fearful might happen.

Father Adolf had actually met Satan face to face more than once, and defied him. This was known to be so. Father Adolf said it himself. He never made any secret of it, but spoke it right out. And that he was speaking true there was proof in at least one instance, for on that occasion he quarreled with the enemy, and intrepidly threw his bottle at him; and there, upon the wall of his study, was the ruddy splotch where it struck and broke. But it was Father Peter, the other priest, that we all loved best and were sorriest for. Some people charged him with talking around in conversation that God was all goodness and would find a way to save all his poor human children. It was a horrible thing to say, but there was never any absolute proof that Father Peter said it; and it was out of character for him to say it, too, for he was always good and gentle and truthful. He wasn't charged with saying it in the pulpit, where all the congregation could hear and testify, but only outside, in talk; and it is easy for enemies to manufacture that. Father Peter had an enemy and a very powerful one, the astrologer who lived in a tumbled old tower up the valley, and put in his nights studying the stars. Everyone knew he could foretell wars and famines, though that was not so hard, for there was always a war, and generally a famine somewhere. But he could also read any man's life through the stars in a big book he had, and find lost property, and everyone in the village except Father Peter stood in awe of him. Even Father Adolf, who had defied the Devil, had a wholesome respect for the astrologer when he came through our village wearing his tall, pointed hat and his long, flowing robe with stars on it, carrying his big book, and a staff which was known to have magic power. The bishop himself sometimes listened to the astrologer, it was said, for, besides studying the stars and prophesying, the astrologer made a great show of piety, which would impress the bishop, of course.

But Father Peter took no stock in the astrologer. He denounced him openly as a charlatan - a fraud with no valuable knowledge of any kind, or powers beyond those of an ordinary and rather inferior human being, which naturally made the astrologer hate Father Peter and wish to ruin him. It was the astrologer, as we all believed, who originated the story about Father Peter's shocking remark and carried it to the bishop. It was said that Father Peter had made the remark to his niece, Marget, though Marget denied it and implored the bishop to believe her and spare her old uncle from poverty and disgrace. But the bishop wouldn't listen. He suspended Father Peter indefinitely, though he wouldn't go so far as to excommunicate him on the evidence of only one witness; and now Father Peter had been out a couple of years, and our other priest, Father Adolf, had his flock.

Those had been hard years for the old priest and Marget. They had been favorites, but of course that changed when they came under the shadow of the bishop's frown. Many of their friends fell away entirely, and the rest became cool and distant. Marget was a lovely girl of eighteen when the trouble came, and she had the best head in the village, and the most in it. She taught the harp, and earned all her clothes and pocket money by her own industry. But her scholars fell off one by one now; she was forgotten when there were dances and parties among the youth of the village; the young fellows stopped coming to the house, all except Wilhelm Meidling - and he could have been spared; she and her uncle were sad and forlorn in their neglect and disgrace, and the sunshine was gone out of their lives. Matters went worse and worse, all through the two years. Clothes were wearing out, bread was harder and harder to get. And now, at last, the very end was come. Solomon Isaacs had lent all the money he was willing to put on the house, and gave notice that to-morrow he would foreclose.

Q. Match the following:

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the following questions.

It was in 1590 - winter. Austria was far away from the world, and asleep; it was still the Middle Ages in Austria, and promised to remain so forever. Some even set it away back centuries upon centuries and said that by the mental and spiritual clock it was still the Age of Belief in Austria. But they meant it as a compliment, not a slur, and it was so taken, and we were all proud of it. I remember it well, although I was only a boy; and I remember, too, the pleasure it gave me.

Yes, Austria was far from the world, and asleep, and our village was in the middle of that sleep, being in the middle of Austria. It drowsed in peace in the deep privacy of a hilly and woodsy solitude where news from the world hardly ever came to disturb its dreams, and was infinitely content. At its front flowed the tranquil river, its surface painted with cloud-forms and the reflections of drifting arks and stone-boats; behind it rose the woody steeps to the base of the lofty precipice; from the top of the precipice frowned a vast castle, its long stretch of towers and bastions mailed in vines; beyond the river, a league to the left, was a tumbled expanse of forest-clothed hills cloven by winding gorges where the sun never penetrated; and to the right a precipice overlooked the river, and between it and the hills just spoken of lay a far-reaching plain dotted with little homesteads nested among orchards and shade trees.

The whole region for leagues around was the hereditary property of a prince, whose servants kept the castle always in perfect condition for occupancy, but neither he nor his family came there oftener than once in five years. When they came it was as if the lord of the world had arrived, and had brought all the glories of its kingdoms along; and when they went they left a calm behind which was like the deep sleep which follows an orgy.

Eseldorf was a paradise for us boys. We were not overmuch pestered with schooling. Mainly we were trained to be good Christians; to revere the Virgin, the Church, and the saints above everything. Beyond these matters we were not required to know much; and, in fact, not allowed to. Knowledge was not good for the common people, and could make them discontented with the lot which God had appointed for them, and God would not endure discontentment with His plans. We had two priests. One of them, Father Adolf, was a very zealous and strenuous priest, much considered.

There may have been better priests, in some ways, than Father Adolf, but there was never one in our commune who was held in more solemn and awful respect. This was because he had absolutely no fear of the Devil. He was the only Christian I have ever known of whom that could be truly said. People stood in deep dread of him on that account; for they thought that there must be something supernatural about him, else he could not be so bold and so confident. All men speak in bitter disapproval of the Devil, but they do it reverently, not flippantly; but Father Adolf's way was very different; he called him by every name he could lay his tongue to, and it made everyone shudder that heard him; and often he would even speak of him scornfully and scoffingly; then the people crossed themselves and went quickly out of his presence, fearing that something fearful might happen.

Father Adolf had actually met Satan face to face more than once, and defied him. This was known to be so. Father Adolf said it himself. He never made any secret of it, but spoke it right out. And that he was speaking true there was proof in at least one instance, for on that occasion he quarreled with the enemy, and intrepidly threw his bottle at him; and there, upon the wall of his study, was the ruddy splotch where it struck and broke. But it was Father Peter, the other priest, that we all loved best and were sorriest for. Some people charged him with talking around in conversation that God was all goodness and would find a way to save all his poor human children. It was a horrible thing to say, but there was never any absolute proof that Father Peter said it; and it was out of character for him to say it, too, for he was always good and gentle and truthful. He wasn't charged with saying it in the pulpit, where all the congregation could hear and testify, but only outside, in talk; and it is easy for enemies to manufacture that. Father Peter had an enemy and a very powerful one, the astrologer who lived in a tumbled old tower up the valley, and put in his nights studying the stars. Everyone knew he could foretell wars and famines, though that was not so hard, for there was always a war, and generally a famine somewhere. But he could also read any man's life through the stars in a big book he had, and find lost property, and everyone in the village except Father Peter stood in awe of him. Even Father Adolf, who had defied the Devil, had a wholesome respect for the astrologer when he came through our village wearing his tall, pointed hat and his long, flowing robe with stars on it, carrying his big book, and a staff which was known to have magic power. The bishop himself sometimes listened to the astrologer, it was said, for, besides studying the stars and prophesying, the astrologer made a great show of piety, which would impress the bishop, of course.

But Father Peter took no stock in the astrologer. He denounced him openly as a charlatan - a fraud with no valuable knowledge of any kind, or powers beyond those of an ordinary and rather inferior human being, which naturally made the astrologer hate Father Peter and wish to ruin him. It was the astrologer, as we all believed, who originated the story about Father Peter's shocking remark and carried it to the bishop. It was said that Father Peter had made the remark to his niece, Marget, though Marget denied it and implored the bishop to believe her and spare her old uncle from poverty and disgrace. But the bishop wouldn't listen. He suspended Father Peter indefinitely, though he wouldn't go so far as to excommunicate him on the evidence of only one witness; and now Father Peter had been out a couple of years, and our other priest, Father Adolf, had his flock.

Those had been hard years for the old priest and Marget. They had been favorites, but of course that changed when they came under the shadow of the bishop's frown. Many of their friends fell away entirely, and the rest became cool and distant. Marget was a lovely girl of eighteen when the trouble came, and she had the best head in the village, and the most in it. She taught the harp, and earned all her clothes and pocket money by her own industry. But her scholars fell off one by one now; she was forgotten when there were dances and parties among the youth of the village; the young fellows stopped coming to the house, all except Wilhelm Meidling - and he could have been spared; she and her uncle were sad and forlorn in their neglect and disgrace, and the sunshine was gone out of their lives. Matters went worse and worse, all through the two years. Clothes were wearing out, bread was harder and harder to get. And now, at last, the very end was come. Solomon Isaacs had lent all the money he was willing to put on the house, and gave notice that to-morrow he would foreclose.

Q. Which of the following statements is incorrect?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the following questions.

It was in 1590 - winter. Austria was far away from the world, and asleep; it was still the Middle Ages in Austria, and promised to remain so forever. Some even set it away back centuries upon centuries and said that by the mental and spiritual clock it was still the Age of Belief in Austria. But they meant it as a compliment, not a slur, and it was so taken, and we were all proud of it. I remember it well, although I was only a boy; and I remember, too, the pleasure it gave me.

Yes, Austria was far from the world, and asleep, and our village was in the middle of that sleep, being in the middle of Austria. It drowsed in peace in the deep privacy of a hilly and woodsy solitude where news from the world hardly ever came to disturb its dreams, and was infinitely content. At its front flowed the tranquil river, its surface painted with cloud-forms and the reflections of drifting arks and stone-boats; behind it rose the woody steeps to the base of the lofty precipice; from the top of the precipice frowned a vast castle, its long stretch of towers and bastions mailed in vines; beyond the river, a league to the left, was a tumbled expanse of forest-clothed hills cloven by winding gorges where the sun never penetrated; and to the right a precipice overlooked the river, and between it and the hills just spoken of lay a far-reaching plain dotted with little homesteads nested among orchards and shade trees.

The whole region for leagues around was the hereditary property of a prince, whose servants kept the castle always in perfect condition for occupancy, but neither he nor his family came there oftener than once in five years. When they came it was as if the lord of the world had arrived, and had brought all the glories of its kingdoms along; and when they went they left a calm behind which was like the deep sleep which follows an orgy.

Eseldorf was a paradise for us boys. We were not overmuch pestered with schooling. Mainly we were trained to be good Christians; to revere the Virgin, the Church, and the saints above everything. Beyond these matters we were not required to know much; and, in fact, not allowed to. Knowledge was not good for the common people, and could make them discontented with the lot which God had appointed for them, and God would not endure discontentment with His plans. We had two priests. One of them, Father Adolf, was a very zealous and strenuous priest, much considered.

There may have been better priests, in some ways, than Father Adolf, but there was never one in our commune who was held in more solemn and awful respect. This was because he had absolutely no fear of the Devil. He was the only Christian I have ever known of whom that could be truly said. People stood in deep dread of him on that account; for they thought that there must be something supernatural about him, else he could not be so bold and so confident. All men speak in bitter disapproval of the Devil, but they do it reverently, not flippantly; but Father Adolf's way was very different; he called him by every name he could lay his tongue to, and it made everyone shudder that heard him; and often he would even speak of him scornfully and scoffingly; then the people crossed themselves and went quickly out of his presence, fearing that something fearful might happen.

Father Adolf had actually met Satan face to face more than once, and defied him. This was known to be so. Father Adolf said it himself. He never made any secret of it, but spoke it right out. And that he was speaking true there was proof in at least one instance, for on that occasion he quarreled with the enemy, and intrepidly threw his bottle at him; and there, upon the wall of his study, was the ruddy splotch where it struck and broke. But it was Father Peter, the other priest, that we all loved best and were sorriest for. Some people charged him with talking around in conversation that God was all goodness and would find a way to save all his poor human children. It was a horrible thing to say, but there was never any absolute proof that Father Peter said it; and it was out of character for him to say it, too, for he was always good and gentle and truthful. He wasn't charged with saying it in the pulpit, where all the congregation could hear and testify, but only outside, in talk; and it is easy for enemies to manufacture that. Father Peter had an enemy and a very powerful one, the astrologer who lived in a tumbled old tower up the valley, and put in his nights studying the stars. Everyone knew he could foretell wars and famines, though that was not so hard, for there was always a war, and generally a famine somewhere. But he could also read any man's life through the stars in a big book he had, and find lost property, and everyone in the village except Father Peter stood in awe of him. Even Father Adolf, who had defied the Devil, had a wholesome respect for the astrologer when he came through our village wearing his tall, pointed hat and his long, flowing robe with stars on it, carrying his big book, and a staff which was known to have magic power. The bishop himself sometimes listened to the astrologer, it was said, for, besides studying the stars and prophesying, the astrologer made a great show of piety, which would impress the bishop, of course.

But Father Peter took no stock in the astrologer. He denounced him openly as a charlatan - a fraud with no valuable knowledge of any kind, or powers beyond those of an ordinary and rather inferior human being, which naturally made the astrologer hate Father Peter and wish to ruin him. It was the astrologer, as we all believed, who originated the story about Father Peter's shocking remark and carried it to the bishop. It was said that Father Peter had made the remark to his niece, Marget, though Marget denied it and implored the bishop to believe her and spare her old uncle from poverty and disgrace. But the bishop wouldn't listen. He suspended Father Peter indefinitely, though he wouldn't go so far as to excommunicate him on the evidence of only one witness; and now Father Peter had been out a couple of years, and our other priest, Father Adolf, had his flock.

Those had been hard years for the old priest and Marget. They had been favorites, but of course that changed when they came under the shadow of the bishop's frown. Many of their friends fell away entirely, and the rest became cool and distant. Marget was a lovely girl of eighteen when the trouble came, and she had the best head in the village, and the most in it. She taught the harp, and earned all her clothes and pocket money by her own industry. But her scholars fell off one by one now; she was forgotten when there were dances and parties among the youth of the village; the young fellows stopped coming to the house, all except Wilhelm Meidling - and he could have been spared; she and her uncle were sad and forlorn in their neglect and disgrace, and the sunshine was gone out of their lives. Matters went worse and worse, all through the two years. Clothes were wearing out, bread was harder and harder to get. And now, at last, the very end was come. Solomon Isaacs had lent all the money he was willing to put on the house, and gave notice that to-morrow he would foreclose.

Q. Identify the statements which are correct as per the information given in the passage:

I. Father Peter was excommunicated.

II. Father Adolf did not fear Satan.

III. Father Peter regarded the astrologer as a fraud.

Directions: Read the passage given below and write the option that you consider the most appropriate.

If you wish to be a writer, you must learn to develop your own point of view. All good writers make us see things in a different light. You may be writing about the same thing as your classmates, but your presentation must reflect your personality and individuality. There are so many interesting subjects you can write about in different forms but here we will try to attempt writing short stories. There is a good market for the following types: the humorous stories, the adventurous stories, the domestic stories, the mysteries and stories related to animals and strange experiences. Don't worry if your story turns out to be short - some of the best stories are quite short. Be very careful about the climax or end of the story. It must be what the reader fears, desires, expects or best of all doesn't expect. So, get down to it. Think of a plot-make points on how the story will progress and pen it down.

Q. Identify the correct statements as per the information given in the passage.

I. In the 14th century, territorial integrities were established in Europe.

II. In the 15th century, the monarchy was strengthened in different European nations.

III. In the 16th century, free institutions rose and grew in Europe.

IV. In the 18th century, England inspired a sense of political reform all over Europe.