READING
COMPREHENSION
Exercise 13
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Read the passage and answer the questions
The Rajputs occupy an honored place in the history of India. They were a war-like people,
proud and patriotic. They were jealous of their honor, and would lay down their lives to
uphold it. They loved their homes and fought bravely to defend the honor of their women-folk.
Nothing would tame their spirits. Perils only called forth their courage and poverty only
increased their power of resistance. None could fight like them. Their motto was ‘better death
than dishonor’.
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1) Which of the following represents the central theme of the passage?
a. The pride of the Rajputs
b. Rajputs and their sacrifices
c. The rise and fall of the Rajputs
d. Rajputs- the spirited heroes of Indian history
2) Which of the following is opposite in meaning to the word ‘proud’ in the passage?
a. Humble
b. Kind
c. Courteous
d. Cowardly
3) Which of the following statements is not true in the context of the passage?
a. The Rajputs achieved eminence in history due to their great bravery
b. They were homely people and would fight for upholding women’s honor
c. In moments of danger they would exhibit great courage
d. They could not, however, face the challenge of poverty
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) Which of the following represents the central theme of the passage?
a. The pride of the Rajputs
b. Rajputs and their sacrifices
c. The rise and fall of the Rajputs
d. Rajputs- the spirited heroes of Indian history
2) Which of the following is opposite in meaning to the word ‘proud’ in the passage?
a. Humble
b. Kind
c. Courteous
d. Cowardly
3) Which of the following statements is not true in the context of the passage?
a. The Rajputs achieved eminence in history due to their great bravery
b. They were homely people and would fight for upholding women’s honor
c. In moments of danger they would exhibit great courage
d. They could not, however, face the challenge of poverty
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4) The expression ‘tame their spirits’ in the passage means
a. Suppress their ambitions
b. Arouse their enthusiasm
c. Develop their courage
d. Curb their enthusiasm
5) According to the writer, the Rajputs occupy an honored place in history, because
a. They were fond of wars
b. They were proud of their war
c. They were jealous of people’s honor
d. They lived and died upholding their self-respect
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4) The expression ‘tame their spirits’ in the passage means
a. Suppress their ambitions
b. Arouse their enthusiasm
c. Develop their courage
d. Curb their enthusiasm
5) According to the writer, the Rajputs occupy an honored place in history, because
a. They were fond of wars
b. They were proud of their war
c. They were jealous of people’s honor
d. They lived and died upholding their self-respect
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
Read the passage and answer the questions
In 1920, after some thirty nine years of problems with disease, high costs, and politics, the
Panama Canal was officially opened, finally linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans by
allowing ships to pass through the fifty-mile canal zone instead of traveling some seven
thousand miles around Cape Horn. It takes a ship approximately eight hours to complete the
trip through the canal and costs an average of fifteen thousand dollars one-tenth of what it
would cost an average ship to round the Horn. More than fifteen thousand ships pass
through its locks each year.
The French initiated the project but sold their rights to the United States. The latter will
control it until the end of the twentieth century when Panama takes over its duties.
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1) Who currently controls the Panama Canal?
a. France
b. United States
c. Panama
d. Canal Zone
2) In approximately what year will a different government take control of the Panama
Canal?
a. 2000
b. 2100
c. 3001
d. 2999
3) On the average, how much would it cost a ship to travel around Cape Horn?
a. 1,500 USD
b. 15,000 USD
c. 150,000 USD
d. 1,500,000 USD
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) Who currently controls the Panama Canal?
a. France
b. United States
c. Panama
d. Canal Zone
2) In approximately what year will a different government take control of the Panama
Canal?
a. 2000
b. 2100
c. 3001
d. 2999
3) On the average, how much would it cost a ship to travel around Cape Horn?
a. 1,500 USD
b. 15,000 USD
c. 150,000 USD
d. 1,500,000 USD
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
4) In what year was construction probably begun on the canal?
a. 1881
b. 1920
c. 1939
d. 1999
5) What can be inferred from this reading?
a. This is a costly project which should be reevaluated
b. Despite all the problems involved, the project is beneficial
c. Many captains prefer to sail around Cape Horn because it is less expensive
d. Due to all the problems, three governments have had to control the canal over the years
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4) In what year was construction probably begun on the canal?
a. 1881
b. 1920
c. 1939
d. 1999
5) What can be inferred from this reading?
a. This is a costly project which should be reevaluated
b. Despite all the problems involved, the project is beneficial
c. Many captains prefer to sail around Cape Horn because it is less expensive
d. Due to all the problems, three governments have had to control the canal over the years
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
Read the passage and answer the questions
Alzheimer's disease impairs a person's ability to recall memories, both distant and as recent
as a few hours before. Although there is not yet a cure for the illness, there may be hope for
a cure with a protein called nerve growth factor. The protein is produced by nerve cells in the
same region of the brain where Alzheimer's occurs. Based on this relationship, scientists
from the University of Lund in Sweden and the University of California at San Diego designed
an experiment to test whether doses of nerve growth factor could reverse the effects of
memory loss caused by Alzheimer's. Using a group of rats with impaired memory, the
scientists gave half of the rats doses of nerve growth factor while giving the other half a blood
protein as a placebo, thus creating a control group. At the end of the four-week test, the rats
given the nerve growth factor performed equally to rats with normal memory abilities. While
the experiments do not show that nerve growth factor can stop the general process of
deterioration caused by Alzheimer's, they do show potential as a means to slowing the
process significantly.
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1) With what topic is this passage mainly concerned?
a. Impaired memory of patients
b. Cures for Alzheimer's disease
c. The use of rats as experimental subjects
d. Nerve growth factor as a cure for Alzheimer's
2) The word "impairs" in line 1 is most similar to which of the following?
a. Affects
b. Destroys
c. Enhances
d. Diminishes
3) According to the passage, where is nerve growth factor produced in the body?
a. In nerve cells in the spinal column
b. In red blood cells in the circulatory system
c. In nerve cells in the brain
d. In the pituitary gland
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
1) With what topic is this passage mainly concerned?
a. Impaired memory of patients
b. Cures for Alzheimer's disease
c. The use of rats as experimental subjects
d. Nerve growth factor as a cure for Alzheimer's
2) The word "impairs" in line 1 is most similar to which of the following?
a. Affects
b. Destroys
c. Enhances
d. Diminishes
3) According to the passage, where is nerve growth factor produced in the body?
a. In nerve cells in the spinal column
b. In red blood cells in the circulatory system
c. In nerve cells in the brain
d. In the pituitary gland
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
4)The passage most closely resembles which of the following patterns of organization?
a. Chronological order
b. Statement and illustration
c. Cause effect
d. Alphabetical order
5) Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
a. Alzheimer's disease is deadly
b. Though unsuccessful, the experiments did show some benefits derived from nerve growth
factor
c. The experiments did not show any significant benefits from nerve growth factor
d. More work needs to be done to understand the effects of nerve growth factor
6) The relationship between nerve growth factor and a protein is similar to the
relationship between Alzheimer's and
a. Forgetfulness
b. A disease
c. A cure
d. A cancer
© 2013 wheresjenny.com
4)The passage most closely resembles which of the following patterns of organization?
a. Chronological order
b. Statement and illustration
c. Cause effect
d. Alphabetical order
5) Which of the following can be inferred from the passage?
a. Alzheimer's disease is deadly
b. Though unsuccessful, the experiments did show some benefits derived from nerve growth
factor
c. The experiments did not show any significant benefits from nerve growth factor
d. More work needs to be done to understand the effects of nerve growth factor
6) The relationship between nerve growth factor and a protein is similar to the
relationship between Alzheimer's and
a. Forgetfulness
b. A disease
c. A cure
d. A cancer
© 2013 wheresjenny.com