Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are printed in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.
The yearly festival was close at hand. The store room was packed with silk fabrics, gold ornaments, clay bowls full of sweet curd and platefuls of sweetmeats. The orders had been placed with shops well in advance. The mother was sending out gifts to everyone.
The eldest son, a government servant, lived with his wife and children in far off lands. The second son had left home at an early age. As a merchant he travelled all over the world. The other sons had split up over petty squabbles, and they now lived in homes of their own. The relatives were spread all across the world. They rarely visited. The youngest son, left in the company of a servant, was soon bored, left her and stood at the door all day long, waiting and watching. His mother, thrilled and excited, loaded the presents on trays and plates, covered them with colourful kerchiefs, and sent them off with maids and servants. The neighbours looked on.
The day came to an end. All the presents had been sent off.
The child came back into the house and dejectedly said to his mother, “Maa, you gave a present to everyone, but you didn’t give me anything !”
His mother laughed, “I have given all the gifts away to everyone, now see what’s left for you.” She kissed him on the forehead.
The child said in a tearful voice, “Don’t I get a gift ?”
“You’ll get it when you go far away.”
“But when I am close to you, don’t I get something from your own hands ?”
His mother reached out her arms and drew him to her. “This is all I have in my own hands. It is the most precious of all.”
Question for Reading Comprehension Passage: 32
Try yourself:Why did the woman’s second son travel ?
Explanation
The eldest son, a government servant, lived with his wife and children in far off lands. The second son had left home at an early age. As a merchant he travelled all over the world.
Kindly refer to the 2nd and 3rd sentences of the 2nd paragraph. The 3rd sentence clearly states that he travelled all over the world because he was a merchant.
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Question for Reading Comprehension Passage: 32
Try yourself:How did the woman prepare for the festival ?
I. She bought expensive gifts for her children and neighbours.
II. She ordered her servants to prepare sweets and food well in advance.
III. She made sure that her youngest child was looked after well so that he wouldn’t be bored.
Explanation
From the last sentence of the 2nd paragraph '...The neighbours looked on.' it is clearly inferred that the mother did not buy gifts for her neighbours. The statement I hence is not correct.
The second last sentence of the 1st paragraph says, '... The orders had been placed with shops well in advance.' which means the mother did not order any of the servants to prepare sweets or food. The statement II is also false here.
The third last sentence of the 2nd paragraph which states, '... The youngest son, left in the company of a servant, was soon bored, left her and stood at the door all day long, waiting and watching.' clearly contradicts what's being stated in the statement III. The statement III hence is not true as well.
The correct option hence is e.
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Question for Reading Comprehension Passage: 32
Try yourself:Which of the following can be said about the woman ?
Explanation
His mother, thrilled and excited, loaded the presents on trays and plates, covered them with colourful kerchiefs, and sent them off with maids and servants.
We can clearly infer from the above sentence taken from the 2nd paragraph of the passage that the mother really enjoyed sending gifts to her family members at festival time.
Option C hence is correct.
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Question for Reading Comprehension Passage: 32
Try yourself:Why did the woman’s eldest son not attend the festival ?
Explanation
The eldest son, a government servant, lived with his wife and children in far off lands.
The above reference has been taken from the 1st sentence of the 2nd paragraph and nothing has been mentioned here as to why the eldest son had not attended the festival.
The correct option hence is 'None of these.
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Question for Reading Comprehension Passage: 32
Try yourself:What did the youngest child do while his mother was busy ?
I. He waited for a chance to steal some sweetmeats.
II. He pestered his mother to give him a present.
III. He stood at the door waiting and watching.
Explanation
In the third last sentence of the 2nd paragprah, '... The youngest son, left in the company of a servant, was soon bored, left her and stood at the door all day long, waiting and watching.' it is clearly stated that the youngest son stood at the door while his mother was busy.
The other two given statements are nowhere mentioned in the passage.
Option 'D' hence is correct here.
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