Reading Comprehension Questions and Answers

Direction for [ Question No: 1 To 1 ] :

The World Bank has declared that it does not plan to offer new financing to Sri Lanka, which is battling its worst economic crisis in decades, until the country has an adequate macroeconomic policy framework in place. In a statement, the World Bank said Sri Lanka needed to adopt structural reforms that focus on economic stabilisation and tackle the root causes of its crisis. The latter has starved it of foreign exchange and led to shortages of food, fuel, and medicines. The bank is repurposing resources under existing loans to help alleviate shortages of essential items such as medicine, cooking gas, fertiliser, meals for children, and cash for vulnerable households.

Direction for [ Question No: 2 To 6 ] :

Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.

Good health is the soundness of body, mind and soul. It is that condition in which the body and mind duly discharge their functions. Good health helps everyone to be creative and work for the welfare of the society. He has to be, therefore, free from diseases: or, if he suffers from a disease he needs treatments not only for that particular disease but for the whole body, mind and soul. In other words, a doctor has to have a sound approach to the patients.

In these days of specialisation, doctors cure a patient only for his immediate disease, treating it in isolation. Such an approach goes against the old aphorism that 'prevention is better than cure'. Dr. Hedge provides insight into the overall causes of simple and serious disease and describes the methods of preventing them without having to take medicine but exercising, self-control on food consumption, smoking and intake of alcoholic drinks. He also advocates regular yoga exercise and meditation to keep fit, but at the same time warns against over indulgence.

Hedge stresses the importance of laughter because laughter induces secretion of good catecholamine, which is a hormone produced by adrenal glands; they can be both beneficial and harmful. They are harmful when a person is angry, but beneficial if he laughs. For a healthy living, "Laughter proves to be great boon," Hedge says. In these days of hectic life, full of stress, strain and emotions, everyone needs to lead a relaxed life. The best form of relaxation, according to Hedge, is sound sleep. "Restful sleep at night will recharge our batteries for the following day's fruitful endeavour," he says. There is no use of lying on the bed and tossing without sleep. Under those circumstances it is better to read or engage oneself in some light mental activities which are useful. But never seek refuge in alcoholic drinks or pills for inducing sleep, as these are not refreshing for an individual. For a normal human being, eight hours of sleep a day is sufficient to keep him free from stress. More than nine to ten hours of sleep a day would produce increased muscle protein loss in the body and might even shorten one's life.

Direction for [ Question No: 7 To 10 ] :

Read the given passage and answer the questions that follow.

Tourism has emerged as the world's largest industry. Growing rapidly in the last two decades, today it accounts for 6% of world output and employs some 100 million people around the globe. Tourism – the travel-based recreation – provides people with a change of place and a break from the monotony of daily life. It brings people of different nations together, allowing them to come into close contact with each other's customs and other aspects of life. It reveals the scenic beauty and past heritage of a country, of people belonging to other nations. The knowledge and experience gained in the process can lead to greater understanding and tolerance, and can ever foster world peace.The contribution to tourism can be nowhere felt more clearly than on the economic front. A study conducted by the United Nations has shown that developing countries, in particular, can reap handsome benefits out of tourism which greatly boosts national income.Tourism generates employment, and adds to the entrepreneurial wealth of nation. While tourism's advantages are many, its undesirable side effects have raised fresh problems.Tourism can cause social, cultural or environmental disruption. Of the greatest concern is the damage to the environment. In order to attract more tourists, sprawling resorts are built which take neither the local architectural styles nor the ecology into consideration. Natural systems come to be destroyed as a result of indiscriminate construction to provide water and waste disposal facilities and recreational arrangement to tourists. Overuse of environmental wealth disturbs the ecological balance.Damage is most in wildlife parks which remain the foremost sites of tourist attraction. Tourist vans and the visitor's feet destroy the ground vegetation, thus affecting the feeding habits of the animals and the landscape as well. Overcrowding brings about congestion, leading to environmental and health hazards.The Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world, has suffered a lot of wear and tear from the trampling feet of tourists.Some socio-culture effects of tourism have been damaging. Tourism often ushers in new lifestyles, arrangements as desired by tourists are provided in order to make them feel at home. The emergence of this 'other' culture in various places has caused dissatisfaction among the local people. The concern is that the local people tend to imitate the foreign values, breaking away from their own traditions.To promote safe tourism while ensuring that it remains a profitable industry, it is imperative to understand the factor that hamper the growth of tourism and check them effectively.