Narrative Passage-2 | English Language Preparation for CUET UG PDF Download

Passage-1

The festival had always been the highlight of the town—a riot of colors, music, and the scent of roasted corn wafting through the air. For decades, it celebrated the harvest, drawing families together under a canopy of stars. But this year, something was off. The bonfire sputtered weakly, and the laughter felt forced. Ravi, a young journalist, sensed it too. He’d returned to his hometown to write a piece on the event, but whispers of a strange incident lingered. A week prior, a farmer claimed to have seen a figure in the fields—a skeletal shape with glowing eyes—before his crops withered overnight.

The townsfolk dismissed it as superstition, but Ravi dug deeper. He interviewed old Mrs. Gupta, who spoke in hushed tones about a forgotten ritual once tied to the festival. Long ago, she said, the townspeople offered a token to the “field guardian” to ensure prosperity. The practice had faded with time, replaced by merriment. Now, she feared, the guardian was angry. That night, Ravi joined the crowd, notebook in hand. The music stopped abruptly as a gust of wind tore through, extinguishing the fire. Gasps rose as a shadow loomed at the edge of the field—tall, gaunt, and unmistakably real.

Panic erupted, but Ravi stayed, camera flashing. The figure vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving behind a patch of blackened earth. The next day, the festival was canceled, and Ravi’s photos showed nothing but darkness. The townsfolk blamed him for stirring trouble, but he couldn’t shake Mrs. Gupta’s words. Had they awakened something by neglecting the past? As he left town, the fields stood silent, their golden bounty reduced to ash. In his rearview mirror, he swore he saw those eyes again, watching him go.

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Questions 

1. What was the original purpose of the festival?

A) To honor a local hero

B) To celebrate the harvest

C) To ward off evil spirits

D) To welcome newcomers

  View Answer

2. What change in the festival atmosphere does Ravi notice?

A) It feels more lively than ever

B) It seems subdued and uneasy

C) It is overly crowded

D) It lacks any music

  View Answer

3. The word “gaunt” describing the figure most nearly means:

A) Healthy and robust

B) Thin and skeletal

C) Bright and radiant

D) Short and stout

  View Answer

4. Why did the townsfolk blame Ravi?

A) He started the fire

B) He provoked the guardian by investigating

C) He canceled the festival

D) He stole their crops

  View Answer

5. What does the ending suggest about the “field guardian”?

A) It has been appeased

B) It remains a persistent threat

C) It was a figment of imagination

D) It left with Ravi

  View Answer

Passage 2 

The mountain loomed over the valley, its peak shrouded in clouds that never parted. To the villagers below, it was sacred, a place where the gods whispered secrets to those brave enough to climb. Karan, a restless soul, had grown up on these tales. Unlike his peers, content with their quiet lives, he yearned for more. One autumn, as the leaves turned crimson, he set out, ignoring his father’s pleas. The ascent was brutal—jagged rocks tore at his hands, and the wind howled like a grieving spirit. Yet, he pressed on, driven by a longing he couldn’t name.

At the summit, he found no gods, only a cave carved into the stone. Inside, a pool of water shimmered, reflecting a sky he couldn’t see. Drawn to it, he knelt and gazed into its depths. Images flickered—his childhood, his father’s weary face, a woman he didn’t recognize weeping. Then, a voice spoke, low and resonant: “What do you seek?” Karan stammered, “Truth.” The pool rippled, revealing a vision of the village burning, his people fleeing. “This is your truth,” the voice said. “Return, or it comes to pass.”

Terrified, Karan descended, the vision searing his mind. He warned the villagers, but they laughed, calling him mad. Days later, smoke rose from the horizon—bandits had struck. The village burned, just as he’d seen. Karan survived, haunted by guilt. Had he caused this by seeking the truth, or had he failed to prevent it? Years later, an old man now, he returned to the mountain. The cave was empty, the pool dry. He whispered to the silence, “Was it worth it?” The wind carried no answer, only the echo of his own voice, mocking him across the years.

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Questions 

1. What distinguished Karan from the other villagers?

A) He was wealthy and powerful

B) He craved adventure and meaning

C) He disliked the village traditions

D) He was physically stronger

  View Answer

2. What does the phrase “howled like a grieving spirit” imply about the wind?

A) It was gentle and soothing

B) It was loud and mournful

C) It was warm and inviting

D) It was silent and still

  View Answer

3. Why did the villagers dismiss Karan’s warning?

A) They trusted his judgment

B) They thought he was delusional

C) They had seen the vision too

D) They planned the attack

  View Answer

4. What is the central conflict Karan faces after the vision?

A) Choosing wealth or poverty

B) Deciding to warn or stay silent

C) Fighting the bandits alone

D) Climbing the mountain again

  View Answer

5. What does the dry pool at the end symbolize?

A) The end of Karan’s curiosity

B) The loss of divine guidance

C) The village’s recovery

D) Karan’s newfound peace

  View Answer

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