Narrative Passage-1 | English Language Preparation for CUET UG PDF Download

Passage 1 

The old house stood at the edge of the village, its walls weathered by decades of neglect. Once the pride of the Sen family, it had echoed with laughter and clinking glasses during grand feasts. Now, it was a hollow ruin—windows shattered, roof sagging, ivy crawling up its sides like grasping fingers. The villagers whispered that it was cursed, that the last of the Sens, a reclusive man named Arjun, had lost his mind there, scribbling cryptic messages on the walls before vanishing into the night.

Read more at: https://edurev.in/t/397049/Narrative-Passage-1 Some even swore they heard cries echoing within on moonless nights, but none dared to look.

Arjun’s disappearance remained a mystery. He had been a scholar, obsessed with ancient texts and forbidden knowledge. His final days were marked by isolation; he shunned visitors and spoke of voices guiding him to a truth beyond human understanding. A journal, discovered years later by a curious teenager, hinted at his descent into madness. Its pages were filled with ramblings about a “doorway” beneath the house, a portal to another realm. The teenager, thrilled by the find, showed it to the village elders, who dismissed it as the ravings of a lunatic. Yet, the boy couldn’t shake the feeling that Arjun had uncovered something real.

Years later, on a stormy evening, a stranger arrived—a woman claiming to be Arjun’s daughter. She carried a worn map and spoke of her father’s work with unsettling conviction. Ignoring warnings, she entered the house. The storm raged louder, and then—silence. By morning, only the map remained at the threshold, marked with a single word: Beware.

Questions 

A) It was too far from the village

B) They believed it was cursed

C) It was owned by a wealthy family

D) It had no historical value

View Answer  

Answer: B) They believed it was cursed

2. What can be inferred about Arjun’s character from the passage?

A) He was a sociable and cheerful man

B) He was a scholar driven by curiosity

C) He was a careless and indifferent person

D) He disliked intellectual pursuits

View Answer  

Answer: B) He was a scholar driven by curiosity

3. The word “cryptic” in the passage most nearly means:

A) Clear and straightforward

B) Mysterious and puzzling

C) Loud and disruptive

D) Beautifully written

View Answer  

Answer: B) Mysterious and puzzling

4. Why did the village elders dismiss the journal’s contents?

A) They found it boring

B) They thought it was fictional nonsense

C) They were afraid of its implications

D) They couldn’t read it

View Answer  

Answer: B) They thought it was fictional nonsense

5. What is the significance of the word “Beware” on the map?

A) It welcomes visitors to the house

B) It warns of potential danger

C) It marks a treasure location

D) It indicates the house’s ownership

View Answer  

Answer: B) It warns of potential danger

Passage 2

The train rattled through the night, wheels screeching as it sliced through the foggy countryside. Inside, Meera sat alone, clutching a faded photograph of her brother, Vikram. He had boarded this very train a year ago, promising to return with tales of the city. He never did. Authorities found no trace—only his ticket stub near a remote station.

For months, Meera had followed a trail: a cryptic letter about a “shadowed man,” a timetable with circled dates, and rumours of vanished passengers. Now, as the train slowed near that same station, her pulse quickened. Outside, through the mist, a tall silhouette stood motionless, watching.

The carriage was eerily quiet, save for the occasional creak of the wood. Meera’s eyes darted to the window, where the fog pressed against the glass like a living thing. She remembered Vikram’s last call—his voice trembling, saying he’d seen something unnatural. The line had cut off abruptly, and her calls went unanswered thereafter. Now, as the train slowed near the same station, her heart raced. She noticed a figure outside—a tall silhouette in the mist, motionless, watching. 

The train jolted to a stop, and the lights flickered. Gathering her courage, Meera stepped onto the platform. The figure was gone—only Vikram’s torn scarf lay there. A whisper carried her name through the wind. She turned—no one. The whistle screamed, urging her back. She hesitated. Then the fog thickened, swallowing everything. When the train departed, Meera was gone. Only the photograph remained, fluttering on the empty platform.

Questions 

1. What motivated Meera to board the train?

A) She wanted to explore the countryside

B) She was searching for her missing brother

C) She needed a break from her routine

D) She was meeting a friend in the city

View Answer  

Answer: B) She was searching for her missing brother

2. What does the “shadowed man” in Vikram’s letter likely represent?

A) A friendly guide

B) A mysterious or threatening figure

C) A train conductor

D) A lost traveler

View Answer  

Answer: B) A mysterious or threatening figure

3. The phrase “like a living thing” describing the fog implies:

A) The fog was harmless

B) The fog seemed active and menacing

C) The fog was brightly lit

D) The fog was thinning out

View Answer  

Answer: B) The fog seemed active and menacing

4. What can be inferred about Meera’s fate at the end?

A) She safely returned to the train

B) She disappeared like Vikram

C) She found her brother alive

D) She abandoned her search

View Answer  

Answer: B) She disappeared like Vikram

5. Why did Meera hesitate to return to the train?

A) She was too tired to move

B) She was torn between fear and hope

C) She didn’t hear the whistle

D) She wanted to take a photo

View Answer  

Answer: B) She was torn between fear and hope