Unseen Passages for Secondary Level Students
Unseen Passage - I
1. Read the following text and do the activities given below: 10
There was a coffee shop in front of my house where one man in his sixties always came and spent his whole day. Out of curiosity one day I went to the shop, ordered some coffee and sat next to him. Before I could speak, he asked me about my home and family. After that, he became quite nostalgic. Suddenly his eyes filled with tears as he told me that I reminded him of his granddaughter Juli, who was in the US. I got to know his son was in the US for the last five years. He had been staying alone after his wife passed away a year ago. A retired officer with enough wealth, yet there was no one to take care of him. Speaking over the phone with his granddaughter was not enough. All he needed was love and care from his children. From that day onwards we became friends. He calls me a granddaughter and loves me very much. From my meeting with him, I learnt that nothing is greater than family, and that money cannot buy happiness. The key to a happy family is love and care.
(A) Match the following: 4x0.5=2
B.Choose the correct answers to complete the following sentences: 4x0.5=2
(a) The narrator was …………… the man.
(i) the granddaughter of (ii) the wife of (iii) a stranger to
(b)The man‟s wife………….
(i) left him away (ii) had already died (iii) is also in the US
(c) The man‟s age was ……………. years old.
(i) sixty (ii) below sixty (iii) between sixty to seventy (d) In spite of enough wealth, the man was ……………..
(i) cheerless (ii) family-less (iii) happy
C. Answer the following questions: 3x2=6
(i) Why did the narrator actually go to the coffee shop?
(ii) How did the man become alone in his house?
(iii) What is the most important thing in man‟s life?
Answers:
B:
(a) a stranger to (b) had already died (c) between sixty to seventy (d) cheerless
C: (i) The narrator went to the coffee shop to know why the man came and spent the whole day at the coffee shop.
(ii)His wife died and his son and granddaughter were in the US.
(iii)According to this passage, the love and care of each member of the family to each other is important in one’s life.
Unseen Passage - II
2. Read the advertisement and answer the questions given below:
Vacancy
Nepal CRS Company, the pioneer of social marketing in the country (promoting family planning and health-related products for the last 3 decades) seeks a suitable candidate to fill the position of Marketing Office.
The applicants should possess:
MBA/MBS from reputed University
FMCG Marketing experience
Salary Negotiable.
Equal Opportunities:
Nepal CRS Company is committed to being an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications irrespective of gender and race.
Candidates for the above must be Nepali citizens
Eligible candidates are required to apply with hand-written application including testimonials, passport size photograph, CV and contact address to the managing Director, Post Box 842, Kathmandu on or before 19th March 2010.
Only short-listed candidates will be invited for written test and interview. Nepal CRS Company
Gongabu, Kathmandu, Nepal.
(A) Form the advertisement, find the closest words in meaning to the following words: 3x1=3
(i) innovator
(ii) communicated
(iii) regardless
B. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the advertisement: 4x1=4
(a) CRS Company is serving in the field of …..
(b) There will be no bias in selection according to ……..
(c )The applications should be addressed to …………
C. Answer the following questions: 4x2=8
(a) How long has the company been running?
(b)What are the academic qualifications required to apply for the post?
(c) What is the deadline for the applications?
(d) Why can‟t all the applicants get the opportunity to sit in the test and interview?
Answers:
A:
(a) innovator = pioneer
(b) communicated = intimated
(c) regardless=irrespective
B: (a) family planning and health (b) gender and race (c) The Managing Director
C: (a)It has been running for three decades.
(b)A candidate should possess MBA/MBS from a reputed university. (c)The deadline for the application is 19th March 2010.
(d)Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for a written test and interview.
Unseen Passage - III
3. Read the following text and do the activities given below: 10
Nowadays schools and colleges have become the abode of indiscipline. Everybody knows that students have become undisciplined. At the time of examination police are called. Who will be happy when he sees a policeman standing at the gate with a stick in his hand? One is tempted to ask, “What is the use of this education where policemen are needed for conducting examinations?”
The aim of education is to wipe out the existence of the force. When a father sends his son to school, does he think that his son will become a thief? So it is not an irony that parents spend money to see students thieves who copy in the examination hall at the point of a knife, stick, khukuri, pistol or bayonet are no better than robbers. Can any father be happy when he sees this?
The cause of such indiscipline is that students don‟t read and teachers don‟t teach. Generally, in many places inefficient teachers are appointed by the authorities on the basis of recommendation. Sometimes they select inefficient hands to pay less. The result is that the schools and colleges play with the lives of the young students. Among teachers, there is friction. Sometimes principals harass teachers and sometimes teachers unite against them. The result is that schools/colleges which are the Biddya Mandir becomes places of petty party politics.
Another cause is that schools and colleges are over-crowded. Ill-fed, ill –clothed and tuition hunter teachers are there to teach. Papers are out. Students are tempted to go to the safest way of tuition. When there is no work, indiscipline comes in. An idle man‟s mind is the devil‟s workshop.
A. From the passage find the words which mean: 4x0.5=2
(a) the place where somebody lives
(b) minor
(c) lured
(d) the strange aspect of situation
B. Rewrite the following sentences in correct order. 4x0.5=2
(a) Idleness brings indiscipline.
(b) The guardians send their kids to school.
(c )The authorities select unqualified man-power to run the classes.
(d) Everyone is unhappy to see a policeman at the gate of exam centers.
C. Answer the following questions: 3x2=6
(a) What types of students are called thieves?
(b) Why is the security force managed at the exam centers?
(c) Mention the meaning of “An idle man‟s mind is the devil‟s workshop”.
Answers:
A:
(a) abode
(b) petty
(c) tempted
(d) irony
B:
(a) Everyone is unhappy to see a policeman at the gate of exam centres.
(b) The guardians send their kids to school.
(c) The authorities select unqualified manpower to run the classes.
(d) Idleness brings indiscipline.
C:
(a) Those students who cheat in the examination hall by frightening the invigilator are called thieves.
(b) The security force is deployed at the exam centre to run the exam peacefully.
(c) It’s an idiom. Its meaning is ‘ a jobless person involves in mischievous activity.
Unseen Passage - IV
4. Read the advertisement and answer the questions given below: 15
VACANCY
WE REQUIRE THE FOLLOWING PROFESSIONALS FOR OUR GROUP COMPANIES
Senior Accountant:
Applicant shall have a minimum 3-4 years hands-on experience at senior accountant level with exposure to finalization of accounts, tax & company audit, arrangement of long & short term financing together with strong computer based accounting skills. Junior Accountant:
Applicant shall have a minimum 3-4 years hands-on experience with strong computer based accounting skills.
Please send your resume by email to:
HR Department
Kedia Organization
Note: Two wheeler owners will be an added advantage.
Only short listed candidates will be called for further selection process. The company reserves the right to reject any/all applications without assigning any reason whatsoever. Canvassing at any stage of the processes shall lead to automatic disqualification.
(A) Match the words in column A with their meanings given in column B4x1=4
Column A Column B
a. Reserve i. restart
b. Resume ii. asking somebody to support
c. canvassing iii. Competent
d. professionals iv. Curriculum vitae
v. to book
vi. employers
B. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate words from the advertisement: 3x1=3
(a) The companies call the applications from the qualified …..
(b) The companies book the authority to …….. applications.
(c )The ………… must have '3-4 years hands-on experience'.
C. Answer the following questions: 4x2=8
(a) How much remuneration has been mentioned for the posts?
(b)Will all the candidates be selected for an interview? Why /why not?
(c) Where should the application be sent to?
(d) State the meaning of „3-4 years hands-on experience.”
Answers:
A:
Column: A Column: B
a. reserve --v. to book
b. resume -iv. Curriculum vitae
c. canvassing--- ii. asking somebody to support
d. professionals ---iii. competent
B:
(a).candidates/applicants (b) reject (c) applicant
C:
(a) No remuneration has been mentioned in the advertisement.
(b) No, only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview. It could be for administrative convenience.
(c)The application should be sent to HR department, Kedia Organization, or sent to [email protected]
(d) Its meaning is a person with 3-4 years experience in the related field.
5. Read the following text and do the activities given below: 10
(A) Find the words in the above passage which are closest in meaning to the following: 4x0.5=2
(a) friendly (b) uniqueness (c) familiar (d) wonder
B. Complete the following sentences by choosing the correct answer: 4x0.5=2
(a) Cows gave milk …. a day. (once/twice/thrice)
(b) The writer was greatly ….. with the beauties of nature.
( pleased/ impressed/amazed)
(c )The writer‟s boss was a/an ….. person. (amicable/fashionable/familiar)
(d) The writer knew Rick when …. (he was a child/he went to Oregon/ he worked in his dairy farm)
C. Answer the following questions: 3x2=6
(a) What did the writer think of his new job?
(b) What was his daily duty?
(c) Why did he feel that he was in a completely different world?
6. Read the advertisement and answer the questions given below: 15
A. Match the words in column A with their meanings given in column B: 4x1=4
Column A Column B
a. sound i. official
b. disciplines ii. grounds
c. incumbent iii. subjects
d. basis iv. weighty
B. State whether the following statements are true or false: 3x1=3
(a) The applicant should produce the testimonials.
(b) Only the females can apply for the post.
(c )The incumbent works in the name of the director.
D.Answer the following questions: 4x2=8
(a) What are the responsibilities of the post?
(b)What are the things to be submitted along with the application to get it accepted? (c) Who should a candidate send the application to?
(d) What requirements should a candidate possess?
7. Read the following text and do the activities given below: 10
Psychology is the study of human behaviour of how people behave and why they behave in just the way they do. Its chief purpose is to know more about human nature and human activity. In the past, psychology was defined as the science of soul or mind but it is not possible to have any direct knowledge of the soul or mind. The whole behaviour is objective and can be observed, both soul and mind are just assumptions, and even if we agree that they are justifiable assumptions, they cannot be observed and are not a proper object of scientific study. Later psychology was defined as the science of consciousness or conscious experience, but nobody has been able to say what makes us conscious of things and people around us, and in any case, there are a number of things an individual does without being aware of them. Many people bite their nails or move their heads and are surprised when their attention is drawn to these acts. They perform them unconsciously. Besides anybody‟s experiences his own private and personal world into which others cannot enter. It is known directly only to him who has that experience. But a person‟s behaviour is open to everybody to observe, it can be directly studied and it is better to confine the study of psychology to behaviour alone, to those activities of the individual
which can be observed, compared and analyzed by all. It is a systematic study of all that man does in response to his world of things and persons.
A. Find the words from the passage that is similar in meaning to the following: 4x0.5=2
(a) character (b) guesses (c) individual (d) orderly
B. State whether the following statements are true or false:
4x0.5=2 (a) In the past psychology was defined as the science of body.
(b) Behavior is objective and can be observed.
(c )Many people bite their nails consciously.
(d) Psychology is the systematic study of human behaviour
C. Answer the following questions: 3x2=6 (a) How is psychology defined?
(b) How did people define psychology later?
(c) Can a person‟s behavior be observed directly? If so how?
8. Read the advertisement and answer the questions given below: 15
A. Answer the following questions: 4x2=8
(a) Where will the trainee assistant be posted?
(b) State the academic and other qualifications for the candidates.
(c) Who will be called for the written test and personal interview?
(d) What should the candidate submit along with the application?
B. State whether the following statements are true or false. 6x0.5=3
(a) The bank claims that it‟s a leading bank.
(b) Posted candidates will work in the Kathmandu Valley.
(c )The candidates must be a Nepali citizen.
(d) All the deserving candidates will be called for interview.
(e) Candidates can send applications after ten days from this publication.
(f) Candidates majoring Economics with 50% marks cannot apply.
C. Fill in the gaps with the words/phrases form the vacancy announcement. 4x1=4
(a) Interested candidates may apply for the post of Trainee Assistant with bio data, P/P photos and …..
(b) Candidates must be …. In both English and Nepali.
(c ) Applicants should have scored at least …… marks in aforesaid disciplines.
(d)The candidates should be young, graduates and below…. years of age.