Sample Reading Comprehension - 27 | Course for UPPSC Preparation - UPPSC (UP) PDF Download

Directions: Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:
Directions: Read the following passage to answer the given questions based on it. Some words/phrases are printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.
Once upon a time, there was a shrewd shopkeeper called Makarand. He had a friend called Mihir, who had saved a lot of money. Mihir was keen on going on a pilgrimage, but did not know where to leave his precious savings. So he came to Makarand’s shop and said, "My friend, I trust you more than anyone. Could you please look after my life’s savings till I return from my pilgrimage?" Makarand pretended to be deep in thought, and then said, "I would rather not. Money spoils relationships. What if something happens to your money while you are away? You will no longer be my friend.”
As Mihir stood there by his shop thinking about what his friend had just said, an old woman entered the shop and bought some things. One of the boys helping Makarand, gave her less change than he should have. Makarand saw this and pretended to scold the boy, he then ordered him to return the remaining money to the woman. Mihir not knowing that this was an act put up by Makarand to make him believe that he was honest, was convinced about his decision and said to Makarand, "I have decided. I will leave the money only with you." Makarand smiled. "Then let us do something. Let’s take the bag of coins and bury it in a place that only you and I will know of. That way, even if something happens to me while you are away, you will know where your money is."
Mihir, simple that he was, thought this was a good idea and the two went and hid the bag in a secret place. Mihir left the next day on his pilgrimage happily as he thought that his savings were in safe hands. Six months later, Mihir returned. He dumped his luggage at home and went to dig out his bag of savings. But even though he searched and searched for his valuables, there was no sign of the bag anywhere. In panic, he ran to Makarand, who was busy in his shop. When Mihir asked him about the bag, Makarand pretended to be surprised, "But I did not go that way in all those months. Why don’t you search for it again?" he said, putting on his most innocent look. Mihir had no choice but to believe him. Sadly, he went home.
On the way, as luck would have it, he met the old woman he had seen in Makarand’s shop. Seeing him sad, she asked him what the matter was. Mihir told her the whole story. Then she smiled and whispered a plan to him. Not long after, the woman came to Makarand’s shop carrying a big box. ‘Brother, I heard you are a good and honest man. My son went on a pilgrimage many months ago and has still not returned. I am worried and have decided to go and look for him. Will you look after my box of two hundred gold coins while I am away?”
Makarand could not believe his luck. He was about to launch into his idea about hiding the box, when an angry Mihir entered the shop, ‘Where is ......’ but before he could complete his sentence, Makarand afraid of being accused in front of the old women, said quickly, "I forgot. I had seen some pigs digging around there and had removed the bag just to keep it safe. Here it is." And he handed Mihir the bag he had stolen many months ago.
Now the old woman pretended she was seeing Mihir for the first time. "Son, did you also go on a pilgrimage? Could you tell me if you met my son anywhere? His name is Jahangir." Mihir, clutching onto his precious bag, said, "Yes, Auntie, I met him on the road a few villages away. He was on his way home. He should be here in a week."
The old woman leaned over and took her box away from Makarand. "Thank you, brother, you have saved me an unnecessary trip. Now, I will need some money to prepare for my son’s welcome." She added and the two left the shop. Makarand could only stare at them open-mouthed.