Worksheet Solutions: Reading Comprehension

Q1:  Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

Monty bought a little red monkey. He named it, Jojo. He bought it from a street juggler for five rupees. The monkey was tied to a place where it didn't belong, so Monty decided to bring him to his private zoo. Jojo was a pretty monkey with mischievous eyes and a bright smile. His hands looked old like they had been in the sun for a long time, but they were quick and tricky. His tail not only made him look good but also helped him hang from branches and grab food that was far away.

Monty always got worried when he brought home a new bird or animal because his mother did not like that. So, he decided to keep Jojo a secret from her until she was feeling really happy. Monty hid Jojo in a small closet in his room's wall. he tied him up to a hook on the wall, or at least he thought it was secure.

(i) Who did Monty buy the little red monkey from?

Ans: Monty bought the little red monkey from a street juggler, paying five rupees for it.

(ii) What did Monty name the little red monkey?

Ans: He named the little red monkey Jojo.

(iii) Why did Monty decide to keep Jojo a secret from his mother?

Ans: Monty kept Jojo a secret because his mother did not like animals, so he hid the monkey until she was in a happier mood.

(iv) What was special about Jojo's tail?

 Ans: Jojo's tail helped him hang from branches and reach or grab food that was far away.

(v) What does the word "naughty" mean in the story?

Ans: It means mischievous, that is, playfully disobedient or full of mischief.

Q2: Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
What causes the monsoon? The monsoon, which is essentially the seasonal reversal in wind direction, causes most of the rainfall received in India and some other parts of the world. The primary cause of monsoons is the difference between annual temperature trends over land and sea. The apparent position of the Sun with reference to the Earth oscillates from the Tropic of Cancer to the Tropic of Capricorn. Thus the low pressure region created by solar heating also changes latitude. The northeast and southeast trade winds converge in this low pressure zone, which is also known as the Intertropical Convergence Zone or ITCZ. This low pressure region sees continuous rise of moist wind from the sea surface to the upper layers of the atmosphere, where the cooling means the air can no longer hold so much moisture resulting in precipitation. The rainy seasons of East Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Australia and the southern part of North America coincide with the shift of ITCZ towards these regions.
Now answer the following questions by choosing correct options:
(i) It rains when
(a) moist wind goes down
(b) dry wind meets moist wind
(c) the air can no longer hold moisture resulting in precipitation
(d) annual temperature goes down.

Ans: (c)
Explanation: Moist air rises into the upper atmosphere, cools down and can no longer hold its moisture, so the moisture condenses and falls as rain.

(ii) What is the full form of ITCZ?
(a) Intertrance Convergence Zone
(b) Intertropical Convergence Zone
(c) Intertropical Capricorn Zone
(d) Intertropical Conveyance Zone.

Ans: (b)
Explanation: ITCZ stands for Intertropical Convergence Zone, the region near the equator where trade winds meet and converge.

(iii) Low pressure region is created by
(a) solar heating
(b) lunar cooling
(c) moist wind
(d) dry wind.

Ans: (a)
Explanation: Solar heating warms the land, causing the air to rise and creating a low pressure region where winds converge.

(iv) Monsoon is
(a) A type of sea wave
(b) a seasonal reversal in wind direction
(c) very hot wind
(d) very cold wind.

Ans: (b)
Explanation: Monsoon refers to a seasonal reversal in wind direction, which brings heavy rainfall to many regions.

(v) The major cause of monsoon is the
(a) difference between annual temperature trends over land and sea
(b) difference between day and night temperature
(c) moisture in the atmosphere
(d) None of these.

Ans: (a)
Explanation: The primary cause of the monsoon is the difference between annual temperature trends over land and sea, which leads to shifting pressure zones and wind reversals.

Q3: Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

Food can maintain and save life. It can destroy life as well. Proper food serves as medicine, improper food works as poison. A little care about the quality and quantity of food will keep us healthy and happy. If we go about eating all sorts of things, we shall become sick. We take pride in calling ourselves civilized. Being sensible means to know the difference between good and bad, right and wrong. It will not do to become slaves to our tongue or taste. Even cattle, birds and beasts eat only what is best for their body. We mostly eat processed food and refined sugar. We pay heavily for junk food, for Chinese dishes or deep fried snacks. As a result we catch diseases. We have drifted away from mother nature.

We laugh at the rules of hygiene, healthy diet and the advice of our elders. This has given rise to diabetes. We offer chocolates, cakes and ice creams too often to our children. We also attend parties or dine out every day. This way we invite obesity and diabetes.

(i) What are the functions of food?

Ans: Food maintains and saves life; when it is proper it can act like medicine, but when it is improper it can harm or destroy life.

(ii) What is meant by 'improper food'?

Ans: Improper food is food that is of poor quality or eaten in excessive quantity; it harms the body and can act like poison.

(iii) What does 'civilized life' imply?

Ans: Being civilized means to know the difference between good and bad and to make sensible choices, especially about what we eat.

(iv) Explain: We have drifted away from nature.

Ans: We have moved away from natural, healthy eating by choosing processed and junk foods, which are harmful to our health.

(v) Find words from the passage that mean the same as: (a) being fat (b) cleanliness

Ans: a) obesity
b) hygiene

Q4: Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

My next pet was a pigeon, the most disgusting bird to behold, its feathers peeking through wrinkled scarlet skin, mixed with the hideous yellow fuzz that covers the youngsters and makes them look as if their fur has rusted. Because of his repulsive and obese appearance, we call him Quasimodo. With an unorthodox upbringing, with no parents to teach him, Quasimodo became convinced that he was not a bird and refused to fly. He walked everywhere. He was always willing to accompany us in everything we did.He would even try to come for a ride with us. Therefore, he had to carry it on his shoulder, which put him at risk of damaging his clothes or letting him walk behind him. If he let him walk, then he had to slow his own pace to match him, because if he got too far ahead, he would hear the more frantic, imploring coos and turn to find Quasimodo running desperately after you.

(i) The narrator describes the pigeon as a 'revolting bird' because
(a) he could not fly
(b) he had to be carried everywhere
(c) he had wrinkled skin covered with yellow feathers
(d) he was fat

Ans: (c)
Explanation: The pigeon is described as revolting because of its wrinkled scarlet skin and the hideous yellow fuzz that makes it look unpleasant.

(ii) Quasimodo got his name because
(a) he was a fat and ugly
(b) he was attractive
(c) he could not fly
(d) he love behaving like human beings

Ans: (a)
Explanation: He was given the name Quasimodo because of his repulsive and obese appearance, which made him look ugly and odd.

(iii) We know that Quasimodo was always eager to go on walks because
(a) he walked everywhere
(b) he did not know how to fly
(c) he complained loudly if he was not taken along
(d) he always copied whatever humans did

Ans: (a)
Explanation: The pigeon walked everywhere and tried to accompany the narrator in all activities, showing he was eager to join walks.

(iv) The phrase 'risking an accident to your clothes' means
(a) the bird pecked at their clothes
(b) there was a chance of the bird soiling their clothes
(c) the bird risked a fall
(d) the bird did not like their clothes

Ans: (b)
Explanation: Carrying the bird on a shoulder could soil or damage clothes, so there was a chance of ruining the clothing.

(v) Quasimodo protested when he was
(a) left at home
(b) lifted on human shoulders
(c) taken for a walk
(d) left behind during walks

Ans: (d)
Explanation: When Quasimodo was left behind during walks, he gave frantic, imploring coos and ran desperately to catch up, showing he protested being left behind.

Q5: Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

Newspapers are our good friends. Life without Newspapers is a waste. Newspapers bring us news and views from all corners of the world. Any incident or occurrence of importance that takes place as reported by the newspapers. The word ‟NEWS‟ is interpreted as North, East, West and South. It means that the newspaper provides us with information and news regarding various subjects from all directions. Newspapers also give us articles on all kinds of topics such as political, social, economic monetary, business, commerce, sports, education, health etc. Newspapers publish advertisements that attract the attention of the customers.

They also contain book reviews of literary, historical and other books by the scholars. Newspapers are of different types. Some newspapers are published daily. They are called "Dailies‟. We must cultivate the habit of reading newspapers to know what is happening around the globe. The one who reads newspapers and interprets editorial pages can only be master in current affairs and general knowledge. Reading newspapers helps you to find out what news is and how it is written. The one who dreams of being a journalist should not spare a day without reading the newspaper. They should be aware about the editorial and be well versed with vocabulary. We will get to know news from all the countries if we read newspapers regularly. If we are reading the newspapers seriously, it will also help to shine in competitive examinations.

(i) What kind of articles are published in newspapers?
(a) Educational and health related
(b) Political, social, sports and games related
(c) Economic monetary, business, commerce related
(d) All the above

Ans: (d)
Explanation: Newspapers publish articles on many topics - political, social, economic, business, sports, education and health - so all the listed options are correct.

(ii) What are the benefits of reading an editorial page?
(a) One can become a businessman
(b) One can become a poet
(c) One can get mastery in current affairs
(d) One can pass the elite exam

Ans: (c)
Explanation: Reading and interpreting editorials helps a reader gain mastery in current affairs and understand opinions on important issues.

(iii) Newspapers publish advertisements attract
(a) Attention of foreigners
(b) Attention of tourists
(c) Attention of customers
(d) Attention of air hostess

Ans: (c)
Explanation: Advertisements in newspapers are meant to catch the attention of customers who may buy products or services.

(iv) How do newspapers help the students?
(a) He can get knowledge of current affairs
(b) He can shine in competitive examinations
(c) He can enhance his vocabulary
(d) All the above

Ans: (d)
Explanation: Regular reading gives knowledge of current affairs, helps in competitive examinations and improves vocabulary, so all options apply.

(v) Who is a journalist?
(a) Daily news reader
(b) Press reporter
(c) Book reviewer
(d) Script editor

Ans: (b)
Explanation: A journalist is a press reporter who gathers and writes news for newspapers, magazines or news media.