TEST YOUR SKILLS
Read the passages given below and answer the questions that follow them:
On May 11, India turned a billion-strong, or a billion-weak, if you wish. Is the glass half empty or is it half full? There are two ways of looking at the billionth Indian. If you go by the tradition of counting heads, it means one billion mouths to feed. But if you want solutions then you are looking at two billion hands. The birth of the billionth baby cannot, and should not, be taken in isolation. What are we promising this landmark baby? Are we ensuring a sound upbringing, adequate nutrition, proper education, excellent health and a bright successful future? Or, are we predicting for him malnutrition, disease, no primary education, unemployment and polluted air? In order that a child gets what is needed to groom it for a successful future, the economic background of a family has a lot to contribute. An ideal family setting decreases domestic burdens and worries to ensure quality time being provided by the parents. Education, a grey area where government policies are concerned, remains the single most important requirement for a meaningful future.
Question.
I. Answer briefly:
1. What landmark did India achieve on May II?
2. What are the two ways of looking at the half-empty glass?
3. How many mouths does India have to feed?
4. Should we take the birth of the billionth baby in isolation?
II. Vocabulary:
1. In ‘isolation’ means:
(a) in separation (b) in inclusion
(c) different (d) exclusiveness
2. The synonym for ‘sufficient’ is:
(a) adequate (b) inordinate
(c) enough (d) spare
3. ‘Foretelling’ means:
(a) telling the past (b) predicting the future
(c) narrating the present (d) describing all the stages
4. The other word for ‘train’ in the passage is:
(a) teach (b) coach
(c) groom (d) help
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