Synonyms Questions and Answers

Direction for [ Question No: 12 To 12 ] :

Directions : Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate option.

In the middle of her solo trip to Mizoram last month, Geeta Garud, 69, was walking on a narrow ledge, "making my way behind a waterfall, trying out something I wouldn't have in my younger years. And I realised how travelling solo was such a liberating experience."

Before going on her week-long holiday, she was hesitant about travelling by herself. Garud had asked friends and family but found no takers. Yet there she was, alone, relishing a challenging trek. "Why was I being dependent on others? Being alone gives you a sense of freedom."

She ended up having many firsts. She danced impromptu at a festival in Reiek, waded into a river, and went horse-riding. "I had opportunities to try horse-riding when I was younger, but could not work up the courage. This time, I thought, if not now, I may not get another chance," says Garud, who was an athlete in her youth and had played cricket.

She was at her farm in Koregaon during the lockdown and had felt the lack of social connections. It motivated her to travel as soon as things eased.

"Travel is also about meeting people; I felt that sense of joy and freedom when I finally did it." She is planning to travel to Europe next and has decided not to take a friend or relative along. She intends to revisit the joy of travelling alone and relishing a sense of freedom all over again.

Direction for [ Question No: 13 To 13 ] :

Directions : Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate option.

Father would dress himself for court in a brightly coloured dhoti, a matching white shirt with an equally bright white turban and a neat black coat. The paraphernalia to court would include a cloth bundle containing court papers and a basket containing hot coffee with tumblers and plates for tiffin given by my mother or sisters-in-law.

The younger advocates of his time were great admirers of my father and used to listen to him with rapt attention whenever he rose to address the court. His arguments were forceful, coherent, cogent, compulsive and conclusive. The arguments would go on till about lunchtime and even the English judge used to take down notes of his points.

One client was particular that my father alone should argue his case. On the day my mother died, this case happened to be on the cause list. My mother was alive when my father left for court at 10 a.m. that morning and he had told my brother that he would return as soon as the case was over. Unfortunately, she died within an hour of his departure.

With some difficulty, the news was conveyed through an advocate in court. My father, however, continued his arguments without showing any emotions. Only after concluding the case did he get back home to the room where my mother's body lay and stood in stoic silence.

Direction for [ Question No: 14 To 14 ] :

Directions : Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate option.

Dorothy lived in the midst of the great Kansas prairies (grasslands) with Uncle Henry, who was a farmer, and Aunt Em, who was the farmer's wife. Their house was small, for the lumber to build it had to be carried by wagon from many miles afar. There were four walls, a floor and a roof, which made one room; and this room contained a rusty looking cooking stove, a cupboard for the dishes, a table, three or four chairs, and the beds.

Uncle Henry and Aunt Em had a big bed in one corner, and Dorothy a little bed in another corner. There was no garret at all, and no cellar - except a small hole dug in the ground, called a cyclone cellar, where the family could go in case one of those great whirlwinds arose, mighty enough to crush any building in its path. It was reached by a trapdoor in the middle of the floor, from which a ladder led down into the small, dark hole.

When Dorothy stood in the doorway and looked around, she could see nothing but the great gray prairie on every side. Not a tree nor a house broke the broad sweep of flat country that reached to the edge of the sky in all directions. The sun had baked the ploughed land into a gray mass, with little cracks running through it. Even the grass was not green, for the sun had burned the tops of long blades until they were the same gray colour to be seen everywhere. Once the house had been painted, but the sun blistered the paint and the rains washed it away, and now the house was as dull and gray as everything else.

Direction for [ Question No: 15 To 15 ] :

Directions : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate option.

1 Love came to Flora asking for a flower
That would of flowers be undisputed queen,
The lily and the rose, long, long had been
Rivals for that high honor. Bards of power
5 Had sung their claims. 'The rose can never tower
Like the pale lily with her Juno mien' -
'But is the lily lovelier ?' Thus between
Flower-factions rang the strife in Psyche's bower.
'Give me a flower delicious as the rose
10 And stately as the lily in her pride' -
'But of what colour ?' - 'Rose-red', Love first chose,
Then prayed, 'No, lily-white - or, both provide;'
And Flora gave the lotus, 'rose-red' dyed,
And 'lily-white', the queenliest flower that blows.

Direction for [ Question No: 16 To 16 ] :

Directions : Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate option.

1 A majority of people think that their dream job is too hard to achieve, too competitive and believe that it is all a matter of luck. All this is true actually, but why should that stop anyone from trying to get the job they really want ? A really determined person will always succeed and, in many ways, will need other people to give up trying so that he can succeed.

2 Many job seekers feel limited by the choices they made at college. They may think that because they studied marketing, all they can ever do is work in marketing. All the evidence shows that, in fact, employers are less interested in acquired knowledge than the ability to think and learn. It is also very difficult to predict the needs of society. For example, if a person chose to study dentistry because there was a lack of dentists when he was in high school, that may not be the case when he graduates. The needs of employers and the economy can change very quickly, and often unexpectedly.

3 Of course, if it is a very tough time economically, it is hard to find employment straight after university, but it is by no means impossible. It might take several months longer to find a job after graduating, but there is work out there. A really key piece of advice is never to get downhearted by rejection because there will probably be a lot you can do to achieve your dream job, whatever it is. You must never give up. Be prepared to work hard and for long hours without necessarily climbing up the career ladder. There is a lot to be said for learning your trade from the bottom up. At the start, there will probably be little money, but it will be worth it in the end. The best jobs are not supposed to be easy - that is what makes them challenging. And if you like a challenge, just keep your head down and go for it.

Direction for [ Question No: 17 To 18 ] :

Directions : Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate option.

"Let's go! We are going to be late!" shouted Glen gleefully as he tightened his schoolbag on his back. Three other faces broke into a smile upon hearing his words. They could not wait to soak their feet in the water and perhaps catch a small fish or two, just for kicks. They were clearly not heading towards where they should be - school. The cold imposing white building became smaller and smaller. Their little hearts grew braver by the minute. They knew exactly where to go.

The canal was huge but that morning, there was only a small lazy stream of dirty water in it. With great gusto, Glen, the leader of the pack, hoisted himself over the railings and climbed down the huge monsoon drain. In the process, he got himself very dirty, but the excitement of truancy was too great to be bothered by some loose buttons and tears in his shirt.

In a fraction of seconds, the other boys joined him. Soon, screams and laughter of delight reverberated into the air but no one else could hear them for they had chosen a canal that was far from anyone. Glen spied many tiny fish darting to and fro in the murky water. They had no economical value and were practically worthless but nevertheless, the thrill of catching them bare-handed was priceless. Glen raced after an extra fat one. He plunged his hands to grab it only to have it slip between the cracks of his fingers.

Direction for [ Question No: 19 To 19 ] :

Directions : Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow by selecting the correct/most appropriate option.

Reach Out! is an organization that runs week-long summer camps, designed to give young people the skills to be the leaders of the future. The camps help to create confident young people who wish to improve not only themselves, but the world around them. Varying in age from 12 to 17, young people come to attend the camps in Canada and the USA from across the world. They spend their time learning leadership skills, considering and discussing important issues such as pollution and health, and helping in the local community. They also meet many other people who have the same interests and beliefs and frequently make friendships that will last a lifetime.

There is no average day at the camp and changes are made to the timetable, which is handed out daily, to allow room for exciting events as they come up. However, camp members generally get up at 7:00 a.m. and, once they've eaten breakfast, start their day with outdoor games to get them warmed up for the busy day ahead. There are workshops in the morning on skills such as public speaking, and then there's an hour for lunch at noon. For one hour in the afternoon, camp members have the opportunity to select from various activities that include dancing, yoga, basketball and song writing.

During the time at camp, there is a day known as Action Day. This is when small groups go out with an adult group leader to work with organisations in the neighbourhood.... Reach Out! This can involve organisations dealing with housing, journalism, healthcare or the environment, to name just a few. Evenings are spent watching documentary films or listening to guest speakers. The aim is to encourage the young people to go out and make the world a better place.

Direction for [ Question No: 20 To 20 ] :

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :

Shreeram Lagoo was acting in a play staged at Ambernath's Gandhi School. We had managed to get the tickets for the play after much running around. We left the hostel quietly after eating dinner in the mess. The play started at 9.30 p.m. and it was already 9.15 p.m. Patil and I were rushing along the road to the station. Suddenly we saw Upadhyayji coming from the opposite direction. He had seen us. 'Maharshi, where are you off to at this time ?' he said reprovingly.

We looked at each other's face. Suddenly Patil spoke up, 'Sir, I have a headache. We are going to the station to have some tea or coffee. We will be back right after drinking a cup.' 'Why, don't you get tea and coffee in the mess ?'

'We do, Sir. But today there wasn't any milk in the mess. That's why we are going to the station', Patil improvised.

Upadhyay said, 'Come with me. I'll get you some coffee.' He brought us to his home. The tickets for the play were squirming in our pockets. We couldn't work out how to get him off our backs. After seating us in the drawing room, he asked his wife to make the coffee and sat on the sofa across from us.

As soon as Mrs. Upadhyay entered the kitchen, I got up and said, 'Ammaji, Warden Saheb is bothering you unnecessarily. I will make the coffee'.

She was pleased to see me. 'Maharshi, you go sit ... I will make it.'

I went up to her and whispered, 'Ammaji, both of us were going to the Gandhi School to see a play. Warden Saheb waylaid us and brought us here. See, here are the tickets, but he doesn't know anything.'

Ammaji examined me from head to toe. 'I see. Is it a good play ?'

I said , 'Ammaji, it is very good.'

'Then why don't you go ?' she said with a laugh.

'How can we go ? Warden Saheb won't give us permission', I whispered.

She came into the drawing room. Listen, what kind of a warden are you ? Why don't you let the children go and have some fun ? Go, Maharshi, but don't be too late.