Solved Comprehension

QUESTION NO. 21

(i) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

One day a wolf felt very hungry. He wandered here and there in search of food but he could not find anything to eat. At last he saw a flock of sheep grazing in a pasture. He wanted to eat one but they were guarded by a hound. The shepherd’s son was also tending the flock vigilantly. The wolf found himself helpless. At last he hit upon a plan. He hid himself in the skin of a sheep and safely went into the flock. The hound could not find out the wolf in disguise. He killed a sheep and ate it without being caught. In this way he ate up many sheep and their number began to fall every day. The shepherd was greatly worried but could not find out the thief.
QUESTIONS
1. Why did the wolf wander about?

Did he find anything to eat?
Why was the wolf helpless?
How did he get into the flock?
Why was the shepherd worried?
Did he find out the thief?
ANSWERS
1. The wolf was very hungry so he wandered about in search of food.
2. No, he did not find anything to eat for sometime.
3. The wolf was helpless because
(i) The flock of sheep was guarded by a hound.
(ii) The shepherd’s son was also tending the flock vigilantly.
4. He hid in the skin of a sheep and safely went into the flock unchecked.
5. The shepherd was worried because
(i) The number of sheep began to fall every day.
(ii) He could not find out the thief.
6. No, he did not find out the thief.

(ii) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

On a hot summer day a fox felt very thirsty. He went about in search of water but could not find water. At last he reached a well. He peeped into it. Unfortunately, he slipped and fell into the well. A goat happened to pass by the well and looked into it. What are you doing here uncle? The cunning fox replied, “Dear niece! I am enjoying a swim down here. It is very pleasant, come down and enjoy yourself too.” The goat was also thirsty; she jumped into the well.
QUESTIONS
1. What happened to the thirsty fox?

Who passed by the well just then?
What did the goat do?
What did the goat say to the fox?
What did the fox say in reply?
Why did the goat jump into the well?
ANSWERS
1. The thirsty fox slipped and fell into a well.
2. A goat passed by the well just then.
3. The goat looked into the well.
4. The goat said to the fox, “What are you doing here uncle”?
5. The fox said in reply, “Dear niece, I am enjoying a swim down here. It is very pleasant, come down and enjoy yourself too”.
6. The goat jumped into the well because
(i) She was thirsty.
(ii) She was taken in by the cunning fox.

(iii) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

Once a stag was drinking at a stream. He happened to see his reflection in the water. He was pleased to see his beautiful horns, but when he saw his thin legs he felt sad as he thought they were ugly. Suddenly he saw a pack of hounds at a distance. He ran as fast as his legs could help him. Soon he left the hounds far behind. He had to pass through a thick forest of bushes. His horns got caught in a bush. He tried hard to pull his horns out of it but all in vain. By now the hounds had come up. They fell upon him and tore him to pieces.
QUESTIONS
1. What was the stag doing?

What did he see in the water?
Why was he pleased?
What made him sad?
Why did he run?
How did his legs help him?
ANSWERS
1. The stag was drinking water at a stream.
2. He saw his reflection in the water.
3. He was pleased to see his beautiful horns.
4. His thin and ugly legs made him sad.
5. He ran to save his life from a pack of hounds at a distance.
6. His legs helped him to run fast.

(iv) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

King Robert Bruce ruled over Scotland. He had been defeated many times by the English. He ran for his life and hid himself in a cave. He had lost all hope to win. As he lay there, thinking if he should give up his struggle or not, he saw a spider trying to reach its cobweb in the ceiling of the cave. It fell down again and again but did not give up its effort. At last, the little insect reached its home in its ninth attempt. This gave courage to King Bruce. He made up his mind to fight and this time he won the battle.
QUESTIONS
1. By whom had Robert Bruce been defeated many times?

Where did he hide himself?
What did he see in the cave?
After how many attempts did the spider succeed?
What lesson did King Bruce learn from the spider?

ANSWERS

King Robert Bruce had been defeated by the English army many times.
He hid himself in a cave.
He saw a spider trying to reach its cobweb up in the ceiling of the cave.
The spider succeeded after making nine attempts.
King Bruce learnt the lesson, “Try, try again till you succeed.”

(v) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

For three years, the master and all his relatives lived in this valley. Many of the Muslims too joined them. All supplies to the valley were cut off. The Makkans saw to it that no food or drink reached the Banu Hashim. The poor Banu Hashim had to live on the leaves and roots of trees and bushes. The condition of children was particularly pitiable. At last, some kind-hearted Makkans took pity on the Banu Hashim. They tore to pieces the agreement hanging in the Kabba. The hunger stricken Banu Hashim were thus able to come back to their homes.
QUESTIONS
1. Who lived for three years in the valley?

Who joined the master and his relatives?
What did the Makkans do?
How did the Banu Hashim live?
What was the condition of the children?
Who took pity on the Banu Hashim?

ANSWERS

The master and all his relatives lived for three years in the valley.
Many of the Muslims joined the master and his relatives.
The Makkans cut off the supplies of food and drink to the Banu Hashim.
The Banu Hashim lived on the leaves and roots of trees and bushes.
The condition of the children was very pitiable.
Some kind hearted Makkan leaders took pity on the Banu Hashim.

QUESTION NO. 22

(i) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

We see a kind of milk in tins. It is powdered milk. All the water in this milk has evaporated. When fresh milk stays in a dish for a little time, the thick part of the milk comes to the top. It is the cream of the milk. From this cream people make butter. If milk with the cream on it is made into powder, it is called Full Cream Milk Powder. When something floating is taken off the top of a liquid we say it is skimmed. When the cream is skimmed from the milk, the thin milk that stays is called ‘Skim Milk’. Skim milk is a good milk but it has no fat in it. It is not good for very young babies.
QUESTIONS
1. Is the milk in tins powdered or liquid?

What becomes of the water in the milk?
What comes to the top of the fresh milk when it stays a little in a dish?
What does the thick part of the milk has in it?
What is cream?
What do people make from cream?

ANSWERS

The milk in the tins is powdered.
2. The water in the milk evaporates.
3. The thick part of the milk comes to the top when it stays a little in a dish.
4. The thick part of the milk has fat in it.
5. Cream is the fat of the milk which comes to the top of it.
6. People make butter from cream.

(ii) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed (RA) was extremely kind-hearted and just to the people. His army had strict orders not to do any harm to the farmers, aged persons, women, children and other civilians. “They are the real strength of society”, he said, “They should always be treated with kindness and respect”. This was something new for the conquered people, who felt very happy now. The Iranian and Byzantine officers were very hard on them. Harzar Khalid Bin Waleed’s (RA) treatment won their hearts so much that they began to hate their old masters.
QUESTIONS
1. How did Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed (R.A.) treat the people?

What were the orders given to the army?
What did he say about the farmers and civilians?
How had their former masters treated them?
How did Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed (R.A.) win the hearts of the conquered people?
Why did the people hate their old masters?

ANSWERS

Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed (R.A.) was extremely kind-hearted and just to the people.
2. He had ordered his army not to do any harm to the farmers, aged persons, women, children and other civilians.
3. He said about the farmers and civilians, “They are the real strength of society. They should be treated with kindness and respect.”
4. Their former masters, the Iranian and Byzantine officers, were very hard on them.
5. Hazrat Khalid Bin Waleed (R.A.) won the hearts of the conquered people with kindness.
6. The people hated their old masters for their unkind treatment.

(iii) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

The age of steam has yielded place to the age of electricity. We have harnessed and introduced it into the service of man. The electric telegraph bears our message to and brings us news from all quarters of the world. Submarine cable does its own work all right. Who is not familiar with the electric bell? Who has not used telephone? Who is not enjoying electric light? Electric motors, wireless telegraphy, electric railways, electric modes of construction and destruction all attest to the great power of electricity. Electricity has developed modern industry and has created many industries. It has enabled man to conquer land, sea and air.
QUESTIONS
1. Why do we call the present age the age of electricity?

Which age has yielded place to the age of electricity?
How do we send and receive messages?
State some important uses of electricity?
What do you think is the future of electricity?

ANSWERS

We call the present age the age of electricity as a lot of things are done with the help of electricity.
2. The age of steam has yielded place to the age of electricity.
3. We use telegraph, telephone and wireless to send and receive messages.
4. Railways, factories, mills and communication work with the help of electricity.
5. Electricity promises a bright future for mankind.

(iv) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

A man is known by the company he keeps. A good student should avoid the company of those who keep playing all the time. Many students miss their classes and seldom do their homework because some other fellow students do the same. There are hardworking students also who work while others play. They enjoy the games of their choice because they know that playing games is essential for health. A sick student is not so quick in learning his lesson as a healthy one.
QUESTIONS
1. What kind of company should a good student keep?

Why do some students miss their classes?
Why do good students enjoy good health?
Why are games necessary for students?
Where does the success of a student lie?

ANSWERS

A good student should keep good company.
Some students miss their classes because some other fellow students do the same.
Good students enjoy good health because they work and play at proper time.
Games are necessary for students because games keep them healthy and active.
The success of a student lies in following a timetable of work and play.

(v) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

Newspapers keep us constantly in touch with the whole of mankind. In olden days a man’s world consisted of his own village and one or two neighbouring villages. It was difficult for him to know what was going on in other parts of the country. But today the press assisted by rapid means of communication brings us news from the farthest corners of the globe. The press is also responsible for educating public opinion. The laws of a nation are really shaped by its press. In fact, the public receives guidance from the newspapers. Thus their power in modern times is really great.
QUESTIONS
1. What good do the newspapers do to us?

Why in olden days man could not know what was going on in far off places?
What is the responsibility of the press today?
How are the laws of a country shaped nowadays?
How are newspapers a source of public guidance?
What is your opinion about the power of the press?

ANSWERS

Newspapers keep us constantly in touch with the whole of mankind.
In olden days man could not know what was going on in far off places for want of means of communication and newspapers.
Today the press is responsible for educating public opinion.
Newspapers play a great part in shaping the laws of a country.
Newspapers are a source of public guidance because newspapers bring the public full information relating to all aspects of the society.
Press has great power. It educates public opinion and shapes the laws of a country.

QUESTION NO. 23

(i) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

About sixty years ago the question of choosing a profession was not taken up seriously. A son generally followed the trade of his father. But nowadays one can take up a trade on likes. The students who make the right choice of profession are always successful. For the right choice of a profession there should be some definite aim. The students who do not have any definite aim suffer a lot in the end as they have also a difficulty in finding an employment. In choosing a profession the teacher and the parents play a very important part. The teacher keeps an eye on his pupils. He studies their habits. So he can put his pupils on the right path of life.
QUESTIONS
1. What were the conditions about the choice of a profession sixty years ago?

Why did the people not choose the profession seriously?
Can a student of the present times choose his profession freely?
What is the advantage of a right choice of a profession?
How can a student choose his profession rightly?
What will be the difficulty of a student who is studying without a definite aim?
How can a teacher help his pupil in making a choice of profession?

ANSWERS

About sixty years ago, the question of choosing a profession was not taken up seriously.
2. People did not choose the profession seriously because a son generally followed the trade of his father.
3. Yes, a student of the present times can choose his profession freely.
4. The right choice of a profession makes one successful in life.
5. A student can choose a right profession if he has a definite aim in life.
6. A student who is studying without a definite aim would suffer a lot in the end. It would be difficult for him to get en employment.
7. A teacher keeps an eye on his pupils. He studies their habits. So he can put his pupils on the right path of life.

(ii) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

Making pottery on the potter’s wheel is called “throwing”. The thrower is a very skillful workman. But there is another method of shaping articles out of clay, — “moulding”. A plaster mould is made and the clay is pressed into it. This is a quicker and less difficult way and must be used to make things like handles; but all the most beautiful pottery is thrown. When a piece of pottery is taken off the wheel, it is put aside to dry, after which a design may be painted on it with special colours that will stand great heat; it is then ready to be fired. This is done in a large oven or kiln. The pieces of pottery are placed in earthenware tubes called “saggers” so that the flames cannot touch the pottery.
QUESTIONS
1. What is throwing?

What is the other method of shaping articles?
What is the advantages of moulding?
How does the porter make designs on the pieces of pottery?
How is pottery baked in fire?

ANSWERS

Making pottery on the potter’s wheel is called ‘throwing’.
2. The other method of shaping articles out of clay is ‘moulding’.
3. Moulding is a quick and easy method of making things like handles.
4. The potter paints designs on the pieces of pottery with special colours.
5. The pottery is baked in a large oven or kiln. The pieces of pottery are placed in earthenware tubes called ‘saggers’.

(iii) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

The Sultan sent agents to all parts of the East to buy rare manuscripts, and bring them back to Cordova. His men were constantly searching the booksellers’s shops at Cairo, Damascus and Baghdad for rare volumes for his library. When the book was not to be bought at any price, he would have it copied; and sometimes even hear of a book which was only in the author’s mind, and send him a handsome present and beg him to send the first copy to Cordova. By such means he gathered no fewer than four hundred thousand books and this at a time when printing was unknown, and every copy had to be painfully copied in the fine clear hand of the professional copyist.
QUESTIONS
1. Why did Sultan send his agents to all parts of the East?

Where and what for they searched the booksellers’s shops?
What would he do when any book was not to be bought at any price?
What would he do when the author had not yet written the book?
How many books had he gathered?
Why was it difficult to collect so many books in those days?

ANSWERS

The Sultan sent agents to all parts of the East to buy rare manuscripts, and bring them back to Cordova.
2. They searched the booksellers’s shops at Cairo, Damascus and Baghdad for rare volumes for Sultan’s library.
3. When the book was not to be bought at any price, he would have it copied or heard.
4. When the author had not yet written the book and was only in his mind, he would have heard it.
5. He had gathered no fewer than four hundred thousand books.
6. It was difficult to collect so many books in those days because;
(a) Printing was unknown
(b) Every copy had to be painfully copied in the fine clear hand of the professional copyist.

(iv) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

Musa was in chief command, and the gates were in his charge. They had been barred when the Christians came in view; but Musa threw them open. “Our bodies”, he said, “will bar the gates”. The young men were kindled by such words, and when he told them, “We have nothing to fight for but the ground we stand on; and without that we are without a home or a country”, they were ready to die with him. With such a leader, the Moorish cavaliers performed feats of bravery in the plain which divided the camp from the city.
QUESTIONS
1. Who was the chief commander and what was in his charge?

When were the gates barred?
Who threw them open?
What did Musa say?
What effect had his words on the young men?
What divided the city from the camp?

ANSWERS

Musa was the chief commander and the gates were in his charge.
2. The gates were barred when the Christians came in view.
3. Musa threw them open.
4. Musa said, “Our bodies will bar the gates”.
5. The young men were kindled by his words. They were ready to die with him.
6. The Moorish cavaliers performed feats of bravery in the plain which divided the city from the camp.

(v) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.
Early rising is a good habit as it gives us early start of our day’s work. We gain time while the late risers are asleep. The early risers have another advantage also and that is that they enjoy good and sound health. Those who are out of bed early have plenty of time to do their work carefully, steadily and completely. They do not have to put off anything to the next day. The early riser is always happy, fresh and smart. He enjoys his work while those who get up late find their duty dull and dry and do it unwillingly. Early rising is therefore, a key to success in life.
QUESTIONS
1. What kind of habit early rising is?

Why can an early riser do more work than the late riser?
Why does an early riser enjoy good health?
Why does a late riser find his work dull and dry?
5. What is the key to success in life?

ANSWERS

Early rising is a good habit as it gives us early start of our day’s work.
2. An early riser can do more work than the later riser because he gains time while the late riser is asleep. He has plenty of time to do his work carefully, steadily and completely.
3. An early riser enjoys good health because he is always happy, fresh and smart.
4. A late riser finds his work dull and dry because he does his work unwillingly.
5. Early rising is the key to success in life.

QUESTION NO. 24

(i) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

Some ants are social insects. It means that they live in societies., cooperate with one another and do only the work assigned to them. They go out in search of food in an orderly fashion, marching in lines and columns like soldiers. Different groups of social ants have different jobs to do. They manage their affairs through division of labour. Some ants guard and protect their community. They fight the other insects who attack them or raid their colony. They are called soldier ants. Another group gathers food for the whole community. The social ants have not learnt this division of labour. They have inherited it.
QUESTIONS
1. What do you mean by social insects?

Why are some ants called social insects?
How do the ants cooperate with one another?
What principle do they follow while doing their work?
Why are the members of a certain group called soldier ants?
How have the ants learnt the principle of division of labour?

ANSWERS

It means the insects that live in societies, cooperate with one another and do only the work assigned to them.
2. Some ants are called social insects because they live in societies, cooperate with one another and do only the work assigned to them.
3. The ants cooperate with one another through division of labour. For example, some ants protect their community while the others gather food.
4. Division of labour is the principle they follow while doing their work.
5. They are called soldier ants because they guard and protect their community. They fight the other insects who attack them or raid their colony.
6. They have not learnt the principle of division of labour. They have inherited it.

(ii) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

Iqbal is not only the greatest poet of our age, but also one of the greatest poets of all times. There are not many poets who wrote as many great poems as he did. He did not write poetry for poetry’s sake. He was in fact much more than a mere poet. He was a learned man. He was a great scholar and philosopher. He was a political leader of great importance. But more than anything he was a Muslim who had a great love for Allah and the Rasoolullah (SAW). He wrote poetry to express the great and ever lasting truths of philosophy, history and Islam. He wrote poetry to awaken the Muslims of the whole world from the deep sleep and asked them to unite.
QUESTIONS
1. Why is Iqbal considered to be one of the greatest poets of all times?

Did he write poetry for poetry’s sake?
How can you say that Iqbal was much more than a mere poet?
What kind of Muslim was Iqbal?
With what aim did he write poetry?
What was Iqbal’s call to the Muslims of the whole world?

ANSWERS

Iqbal is considered to be one the the greatest poets of all times because there are not many poets who wrote as many great poems as he did.
2. No, he did not write poetry for poetry’s sake.
3. Iqbal was much more than a mere poet as he was a learned man, a great scholar and philosopher, and a political leader of great importance.
4. Iqbal was a Muslim who had a great love for Allah and the Rasoolullah (SAW).
5. He wrote poetry to awaken the Muslims of the whole world from the deep sleep of ignorance.
6. Iqbal’s call to the Muslims of the whole world was to ‘be united’.

(iii) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

One day a girl found a coin. It rolled away before her broom when she was sweeping the yard, and fell with a little clatter against the wall. She ran and picked it up. Someone had dropped it while crossing the yard and perhaps had not even troubled to look for it. It was worth little. But it seemed a whole fortune to her, who never had anything of her own before. She rubbed it clean on the sleeve of her blue cotton jacket and put it into her pocket.
QUESTIONS
1. What did the girl find?

When did she find it?
How had the coin been there?
What was the worth of the coin?
Why was it a whole fortune for her?
How did she clean it?
What did she do after cleaning it?

ANSWERS

The girl found a coin.
2. She found it when she was sweeping the yard.
3. Someone had dropped it while crossing the yard and perhaps had not even troubled to look for it.
4. It was worth little.
5. It was a whole fortune for her because she never had anything of her own before.
6. She rubbed it clean on the sleeve of her blue cotton jacket.
7. After cleaning it, she put it into her pocket.

(iv) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

In December, 1930 Dr. Muhammad Iqbal was invited to preside over the annual meeting of the All India Muslim League at Allahabad. In his address he openly opposed the idea of power-sharing together of Hindus and Muslims as one nation. He declared that the move to apply one constitution to both the Hindus and Muslims would result in a civil war. He wanted to see the Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a single state for the Muslims, so that they should live according to the teachings of Islam. We can say that Allama Iqbal was the first thinker to give us the idea of a separate homeland for the Muslims of India i.e. partition of the Sub-continent into two sovereign states. The Muslims soon realized the importance of the demand for two separate states. It was then the Pakistan Resolution was adopted in 1940.
QUESTIONS
1. Where was the annual meeting of the All India Muslim League held in 1930?

Who was invited to preside over the session?
What idea did Allama Iqbal oppose?
Which provinces did he want to be included in the Muslim state?
On what grounds did he demand a separate state for the Muslims of India?
When was the Pakistan Resolution moved?

ANSWERS

The annual meeting of the All India Muslim League was held at Allahabad in 1930.
2. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal was invited to preside over the session.
3. Allama Iqbal openly opposed the idea of power-sharing together of Hindus and Muslims as one nation.
4. He wanted to be included Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the Muslim state.
5. He demanded a separate state for the Muslims of India so that they could live according to the teachings of Islam.
6. The Pakistan Resolution was moved in 1940.

(v) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885 by a liberal English man Mr. A.O. Hume. He had joined the Indian Civil Service in 1849 and retired from service after shouldering different responsibilities. He had been watching the ugly law and order situation, in the country quite frequently. He was of the opinion that the highhanded rule of the Britishers was paving way for any unexpected outburst of violence. His plan was to put a safety valve to minimize the mounting sentiments against the British rule. It was meant to provide an outlet which could ventilate the revolutionary spirit. Mr. Hume put his plan before Lord Duffrin.
QUESTIONS
1. Who founded the Indian National Congress?

Who was Mr. A.O. Hume?
When was the Indian National Congress founded?
Why did Hume think of founding this political organization?
With whom did he discuss his plan?

ANSWERS

The Indain National Congress was founded by Mr. A.O. Hume.
2. Mr. A.O. Hume was a liberal man. He had joined the Indian Civil Service in 1849 and retired from service after shouldering different responsibilities.
3. The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885.
4. Through this political organization, Hume wanted to put a safety valve to minimize the mounting sentiments against the British rule. It was meant to provide an outlet which could ventilate the revolutionary spirit.
5. He discussed his plan with Lord Duffrin.

QUESTION NO. 25

(i) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

There was once a man whose doctor gave him medicine which was quite black. His servant who was illiterate made a mistake and poured out a dose of ink in place of the drug. He gave it to his master who drank it. After the patient had taken the dose of ink the servant somehow realized his mistake. He ran back to his master and said, “Sir, I have given you a dose of ink instead of the medicine as both were equally black, what should be done now?” The master replied softly, “Now give me a piece of blotting paper to swallow”.
QUESTIONS
1. What was the colour of the medicine?

What did the servant give to his master?
When did the servant come to know of his mistake?
What did the servant do?
What did the master say to his servant?

ANSWERS

The colour of the medicine was quite black.
2. The servant gave to his master a dose of ink in place of the drug.
3. After the master had taken the dose of ink the servant somehow came to know of his mistake.
4. The servant ran back to his master and said, “Sir, I have given you a dose of ink instead of the medicine as both were equally black, what should be done now?”
5. The master said to his servant, “Now give me a piece of blotting paper to swallow”.

(ii) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

There lived a monkey in a forest. One day he was going about in search of food as he was very hungry. At last he entered the house of a farmer. There was no body in the house. The monkey found a hard vessel with a narrow opening. He put his hand into it. It had grains in it. He took a handful of these and tried to pull his hand out but he could not do so with his closed fist. After some time the owner of the house came up. His dog was also with him. The dog fell upon the monkey and tore him to pieces. Thus the monkey met his fate due to his greed.
QUESTIONS
1. Where did the monkey live?

Why did he enter the house of a farmer?
What did he find there?
What was in the vessel?
What did the monkey do?
Why could he not pull his hand out of the vessel?
How did the monkey meet his fate?

ANSWERS

The monkey lived in a forest.
2. He entered the house of a farmer in search of food. Moreover, there was no body in the house.
3. He found a hard vessel with a narrow opening.
4. There were grains in the vessel.
5. The monkey put his hand into the vessel.
6. He could not pull his hand out of the vessel because the vessel had narrow opening and his fist was closed.
7. The monkey met his fate due to his greed. The owner’s dog fell upon him and tore him to pieces.

(iii) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

A tailor ran a shop in a bazaar. An elephant used to go to the river through that bazaar. The tailor gave him a bun everyday. One day the tailor pricked a needle into the trunk of the elephant. The elephant became angry but went away. On return he filled his trunk with muddy water. On reaching the shop of the tailor he put his trunk into it and squirted the dirty water into the shop of the tailor. All the fine and new dresses of his customers were spoiled. He was very sorry for annoying the elephant but it was no use crying over spilt milk.
QUESTIONS
1. Where did the elephant go everyday?

What did the tailor give him?
What mistake did the tailor make one day?
What did the elephant do after drinking water?
How did the elephant punish the tailor for his mistake?
What is the moral of the story?

ANSWERS

The elephant used to go to the river everyday.
2. The tailor gave him a bun everyday.
3. The tailor pricked a needle into the trunk of the elephant one day.
4. After drinking water, the elephant filled his trunk with muddy water.
5. On reaching the shop of the tailor, the elephant put his trunk into it and squirted the dirty water on the fine and new dresses of the tailor’s customers.
6. (i) As you sow, so shall you reap
(ii) Tit for tat
(iii) It is useless to cry over spilt milk.

(iv) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

A professional player is quite different from an amateur. His main aim is to make money. He plays the game to earn money or to win a name. On the other hand the amateur player has no such aim. He plays because he gets pleasure in playing. Games not only give him recreation but also physical exercise. He enjoys good health and a sound physique. He plays the game as he should. He observes all the rules and regulations of games. The amateur player plays honestly. He becomes a disciplined gentleman and a responsible citizen. He accepts defeat but does not resort to cheating or other unfair means to win. If he wins a game he feels happy but he is not sad at losing one.
QUESTIONS
1. What is meant by professional player?

With what aim does he play games?
What makes an amateur player a responsible citizen?
What qualities of true sportsmanship does a professional player lack?
How does an amateur player differ from a professional player?
How does an amateur player take his defeat?
Who plays a game for the sake of the game?

ANSWERS

A professional players is the person who plays the game to earn money or to win a name.
2. He plays games with the aim to earn money or to win a name.
3. An amateur player observes all the rules and regulations of games. He plays honestly. These things make him a responsible citizen.
4. A professional player lacks recreation, honesty and discipline.
5. Unlike a professional player, an amateur players plays the game for recreation and not for money. He plays the game as he should. He observes all the rules and regulations of games and plays honestly.
6. An amateur player is not sad at his defeat. He accepts his defeat but does not resort to cheating or other unfair means to win.
7. An amateur players plays a game for the sake of the game.

(v) Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

The camel is rightly called the “ship of the desert”. It is the best means of transport in deserts. Camels go slow. But they go on walking for hours on the burning sand and in the blazing sun. Camels carry heavy loads, much heavier in weight than any other beast of burden can. While the other animals’ feet sink into the sand, nature has made the feet of camel such that it is not at all difficult for it to walk on sand. The camel is superior to all other animals because it can go without food and drink for days and weeks. It can store food and water. Its hump is also a store of food which the camels use when they get nothing to eat and drink for many days. In deserts only bushes grow here and there and the camel can live on these.
QUESTIONS
1. Why is camel called the ship of the desert?

Is it for its speed that it is called the ship of the deserts?
What difficulty do the other beasts of burden have to face while walking on the sand?
Why does a camel walk easily on the loose sand of the desert?
What special quality makes camel superior to other animals used for transport?
How does the camel go without food and water for days and weeks?
What does the camel generally live on?

ANSWERS

The camel is called the ship of the desert because it is the best means of transport in deserts.
No, the camel goes slow. But it goes on walking for hours on the burning sand and in the blazing sun. So it is called the ship of the deserts.
Other beasts of burden have to face two difficulties while walking on the sand;

(a) Their feet sink into the sand

(b) They cannot bear up extreme hunger and thirst

Nature has made the feet of camel such that it is not at all difficult for it to walk on the loose sand of the desert.
5. The camel is superior to all other animals of transport because it can go without food and drink for days and weeks.
6. The camel goes without food and water for days and weeks because it stores food in its hump.
7. In deserts only bushes grow here and there and the camel generally lives on these.

COMPREHENSION NO. 24 – ENGLISH FOR CLASS 9

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

With what aim does he play games?
What makes an amateur player a responsible citizen?
What qualities of true sportsmanship does a professional player lack?
How does an amateur player differ from a professional player?
How does an amateur player take his defeat?
Who plays a game for the sake of the game?

ANSWERS

A professional players is the person who plays the game to earn money or to win a name.
2. He plays games with the aim to earn money or to win a name.
3. An amateur player observes all the rules and regulations of games. He plays honestly. These things make him a responsible citizen.
4. A professional player lacks recreation, honesty and discipline.
5. Unlike a professional player, an amateur players plays the game for recreation and not for money. He plays the game as he should. He observes all the rules and regulations of games and plays honestly.
6. An amateur player is not sad at his defeat. He accepts his defeat but does not resort to cheating or other unfair means to win.
7. An amateur players plays a game for the sake of the game.

COMPREHENSION NO. 20 – ENGLISH FOR CLASS 9

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

Who was Mr. A.O. Hume?
When was the Indian National Congress founded?
Why did Hume think of founding this political organization?
With whom did he discuss his plan?

ANSWERS

The Indain National Congress was founded by Mr. A.O. Hume.
2. Mr. A.O. Hume was a liberal man. He had joined the Indian Civil Service in 1849 and retired from service after shouldering different responsibilities.
3. The Indian National Congress was founded in 1885.
4. Through this political organization, Hume wanted to put a safety valve to minimize the mounting sentiments against the British rule. It was meant to provide an outlet which could ventilate the revolutionary spirit.
5. He discussed his plan with Lord Duffrin.

COMPREHENSION NO. 17 – ENGLISH FOR CLASS 9

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

Did he write poetry for poetry’s sake?
How can you say that Iqbal was much more than a mere poet?
What kind of Muslim was Iqbal?
With what aim did he write poetry?
What was Iqbal’s call to the Muslims of the whole world?

ANSWERS

Iqbal is considered to be one the the greatest poets of all times because there are not many poets who wrote as many great poems as he did.
2. No, he did not write poetry for poetry’s sake.
3. Iqbal was much more than a mere poet as he was a learned man, a great scholar and philosopher, and a political leader of great importance.
4. Iqbal was a Muslim who had a great love for Allah and the Rasoolullah (SAW).
5. He wrote poetry to awaken the Muslims of the whole world from the deep sleep of ignorance.
6. Iqbal’s call to the Muslims of the whole world was to ‘be united’.

COMPREHENSION NO. 16 – ENGLISH FOR CLASS 9

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.

Why are some ants called social insects?
How do the ants cooperate with one another?
What principle do they follow while doing their work?
Why are the members of a certain group called soldier ants?
How have the ants learnt the principle of division of labour?

ANSWERS

It means the insects that live in societies, cooperate with one another and do only the work assigned to them.
2. Some ants are called social insects because they live in societies, cooperate with one another and do only the work assigned to them.
3. The ants cooperate with one another through division of labour. For example, some ants protect their community while the others gather food.
4. Division of labour is the principle they follow while doing their work.
5. They are called soldier ants because they guard and protect their community. They fight the other insects who attack them or raid their colony.
6. They have not learnt the principle of division of labour. They have inherited it.

COMPREHENSION NO. 15 – ENGLISH FOR CLASS 9

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given at the end.
Early rising is a good habit as it gives us early start of our day’s work. We gain time while the late risers are asleep. The early risers have another advantage also and that is that they enjoy good and sound health. Those who are out of bed early have plenty of time to do their work carefully, steadily and completely. They do not have to put off anything to the next day. The early riser is always happy, fresh and smart. He enjoys his work while those who get up late find their duty dull and dry and do it unwillingly. Early rising is therefore, a key to success in life.
QUESTIONS
1. What kind of habit early rising is?

Why can an early riser do more work than the late riser?
Why does an early riser enjoy good health?
Why does a late riser find his work dull and dry?
5. What is the key to success in life?

ANSWERS

Early rising is a good habit as it gives us early start of our day’s work.
2. An early riser can do more work than the later riser because he gains time while the late riser is asleep. He has plenty of time to do his work carefully, steadily and completely.
3. An early riser enjoys good health because he is always happy, fresh and smart.
4. A late riser finds his work dull and dry because he does his work unwillingly.
5. Early rising is the key to success in life.

Questions 1 through 7 refer to the following passage:

In the 16th century, an age of great marine and terrestrial exploration, Ferdinand Magellan led the first expedition to sail around the world. As a young Portuguese noble, he served the king of Portugal, but he became involved in the quagmire of political intrigue at court and lost the king’s favor. After he was dismissed from service by the king of Portugal, he offered to serve the future Emperor Charles V of Spain.

A papal decree of 1493 had assigned all land in the New World west of 50 degrees W longitude to Spain and all the land east of that line to Portugal. Magellan offered to prove that the East Indies fell under Spanish authority. On September 20, 1519, Magellan set sail from Spain with five ships. More than a year later, one of these ships was exploring the topography of South America in search of a water route across the continent. This ship sank, but the remaining four ships searched along the southern peninsula of South America. Finally they found the passage they sought near 50 degrees S latitude. Magellan named this passage the Strait of All Saints, but today it is known as the Strait of Magellan.

One ship deserted while in this passage and returned to Spain, so fewer sailors were privileged to gaze at that first panorama of the Pacific Ocean. Those who remained crossed the meridian now known as the International Date Line in the early spring of 1521 after 98 days on the Pacific Ocean. During those long days at sea, many of Magellan’s men died of starvation and disease.

Later, Magellan became involved in an insular conflict in the Philippines and was killed in a tribal battle. Only one ship and 17 sailors under the command of the Basque navigator Elcano survived to complete the westward journey to Spain and thus prove once and for all that the world is round, with no precipice at the edge.

The 16th century was an age of great ______ exploration.
cosmic
B. land
C. mental
D. common man
E. None of the above
Magellan lost the favor of the king of Portugal when he became involved in a political ________.
entanglement
B. discussion
C. negotiation
D. problem
E. None of the above
The Pope divided New World lands between Spain and Portugal according to their location on one side or the other of an imaginary geographical line 50 degrees west of Greenwich that extends in a _________ direction.
north and south
B. crosswise
C. easterly
D. south east
E. north and west
One of Magellan’s ships explored the _________ of South America for a passage across the continent.
coastline
B. mountain range
C. physical features
D. islands
E. None of the above
Four of the ships sought a passage along a southern ______.
coast
B. inland
C. body of land with water on three sides
D. border
E. Answer not available
The passage was found near 50 degrees S of ________.
Greenwich
B. The equator
C. Spain
D. Portugal
E. Madrid
In the spring of 1521, the ships crossed the _______ now called the International Date Line.
imaginary circle passing through the poles
B. imaginary line parallel to the equator
C. area
D. land mass
E. Answer not available

The following passage refers to questions 8 through 14.

Marie Curie was one of the most accomplished scientists in history. Together with her husband, Pierre, she discovered radium, an element widely used for treating cancer, and studied uranium and other radioactive substances. Pierre and Marie’s amicable collaboration later helped to unlock the secrets of the atom.

Marie was born in 1867 in Warsaw, Poland, where her father was a professor of physics. At an early age, she displayed a brilliant mind and a blithe personality. Her great exuberance for learning prompted her to continue with her studies after high school. She became disgruntled, however, when she learned that the university in Warsaw was closed to women. Determined to receive a higher education, she defiantly left Poland and in 1891 entered the Sorbonne, a French university, where she earned her master’s degree and doctorate in physics.

Marie was fortunate to have studied at the Sorbonne with some of the greatest scientists of her day, one of whom was Pierre Curie. Marie and Pierre were married in 1895 and spent many productive years working together in the physics laboratory. A short time after they discovered radium, Pierre was killed by a horse-drawn wagon in 1906. Marie was stunned by this horrible misfortune and endured heartbreaking anguish. Despondently she recalled their close relationship and the joy that they had shared in scientific research. The fact that she had two young daughters to raise by herself greatly increased her distress.

Curie’s feeling of desolation finally began to fade when she was asked to succeed her husband as a physics professor at the Sorbonne. She was the first woman to be given a professorship at the world-famous university. In 1911 she received the Nobel Prize in chemistry for isolating radium. Although Marie Curie eventually suffered a fatal illness from her long exposure to radium, she never became disillusioned about her work. Regardless of the consequences, she had dedicated herself to science and to revealing the mysteries of the physical world.

The Curies’ _________ collaboration helped to unlock the secrets of the atom.
friendly
B. competitive
C. courteous
D. industrious
E. chemistry
Marie had a bright mind and a ______ personality.
strong
B. lighthearted
C. humorous
D. strange
E. envious
When she learned that she could not attend the university in Warsaw, she felt _________.
hopeless
B. annoyed
C. depressed
D. worried
E. None of the above
Marie _________ by leaving Poland and traveling to France to enter the Sorbonne.
challenged authority
B. showed intelligence
C. behaved
D. was distressed
E. Answer not available
_________ she remembered their joy together.
Dejectedly
B. Worried
C. Tearfully
D. Happily
E. Irefully
Her _________ began to fade when she returned to the Sorbonne to succeed her husband.
misfortune
B. anger
C. wretchedness
D. disappointment
E. ambition
Even though she became fatally ill from working with radium, Marie Curie was never _________.
troubled
B. worried
C. disappointed
D. sorrowful
E. disturbed

The following passage refers to questions 15 through 19.

Mount Vesuvius, a volcano located between the ancient Italian cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, has received much attention because of its frequent and destructive eruptions. The most famous of these eruptions occurred in A.D. 79.

The volcano had been inactive for centuries. There was little warning of the coming eruption, although one account unearthed by archaeologists says that a hard rain and a strong wind had disturbed the celestial calm during the preceding night. Early the next morning, the volcano poured a huge river of molten rock down upon Herculaneum, completely burying the city and filling the harbor with coagulated lava.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the mountain, cinders, stone and ash rained down on Pompeii. Sparks from the burning ash ignited the combustible rooftops quickly. Large portions of the city were destroyed in the conflagration. Fire, however, was not the only cause of destruction. Poisonous sulfuric gases saturated the air. These heavy gases were not buoyant in the atmosphere and therefore sank toward the earth and suffocated people.

Over the years, excavations of Pompeii and Herculaneum have revealed a great deal about the behavior of the volcano. By analyzing data, much as a zoologist dissects an animal specimen, scientists have concluded that the eruption changed large portions of the area’s geography. For instance, it turned the Sarno River from its course and raised the level of the beach along the Bay of Naples. Meteorologists studying these events have also concluded that Vesuvius caused a huge tidal wave that affected the world’s climate.

In addition to making these investigations, archaeologists have been able to study the skeletons of victims by using distilled water to wash away the volcanic ash. By strengthening the brittle bones with acrylic paint, scientists have been able to examine the skeletons and draw conclusions about the diet and habits of the residents. Finally, the excavations at both Pompeii and Herculaneum have yielded many examples of classical art, such as jewelry made of bronze, which is an alloy of copper and tin. The eruption of Mount Vesuvius and its tragic consequences have provided everyone with a wealth of data about the effects that volcanoes can have on the surrounding area. Today, volcanologists can locate and predict eruptions, saving lives and preventing the destruction of other cities and cultures.

Herculaneum and its harbor were buried under _________ lava.
liquid
B. solid
C. flowing
D. gas
E. Answer not available
The poisonous gases were not _________ in the air.
able to float
B. visible
C. able to evaporate
D. invisible
E. able to condense
Scientists analyzed data about Vesuvius in the same way that a zoologist _________ a specimen.
describes in detail
B. studies by cutting apart
C. photographs
D. chart
E. Answer not available
_________ have concluded that the volcanic eruption caused a tidal wave.
Scientists who study oceans
B. Scientists who study atmospheric conditions
C. Scientists who study ash
D. Scientists who study animal behavior
E. Answer not available in article
Scientists have used _________ water to wash away volcanic ash from the skeletons of victims.
bottled
B. volcanic
C. purified
D. sea
E. fountain

The following passage refers to questions 20-24.

Conflict had existed between Spain and England since the 1570s. England wanted a share of the wealth that Spain had been taking from the lands it had claimed in the Americas.

Elizabeth I, Queen of England, encouraged her staunch admiral of the navy, Sir Francis Drake, to raid Spanish ships and towns. Though these raids were on a small scale, Drake achieved dramatic success, adding gold and silver to England’s treasury and diminishing Spain’s supremacy.

Religious differences also caused conflict between the two countries. Whereas Spain was Roman Catholic, most of England had become Protestant. King Philip II of Spain wanted to claim the throne and make England a Catholic country again. To satisfy his ambition and also to retaliate against England’s theft of his gold and silver, King Philip began to build his fleet of warships, the Spanish Armada, in January 1586.

Philip intended his fleet to be indestructible. In addition to building new warships, he marshaled 130 sailing vessels of all types and recruited more than 19,000 robust soldiers and 8,000 sailors. Although some of his ships lacked guns and others lacked ammunition, Philip was convinced that his Armada could withstand any battle with England.

The martial Armada set sail from Lisbon, Portugal, on May 9, 1588, but bad weather forced it back to port. The voyage resumed on July 22 after the weather became more stable.

The Spanish fleet met the smaller, faster, and more maneuverable English ships in battle off the coast of Plymouth, England, first on July 31 and again on August 2. The two battles left Spain vulnerable, having lost several ships and with its ammunition depleted. On August 7, while the Armada lay at anchor on the French side of the Strait of Dover, England sent eight burning ships into the midst of the Spanish fleet to set it on fire. Blocked on one side, the Spanish ships could only drift away, their crews in panic and disorder. Before the Armada could regroup, the English attacked again on August 8.

Although the Spaniards made a valiant effort to fight back, the fleet suffered extensive damage. During the eight hours of battle, the Armada drifted perilously close to the rocky coastline. At the moment when it seemed that the Spanish ships would be driven onto the English shore, the wind shifted, and the Armada drifted out into the North Sea. The Spaniards recognized the superiority of the English fleet and returned home, defeated.

Sir Francis Drake added wealth to the treasury and diminished Spain’s _________.
unlimited power
B. unrestricted growth
C. territory
D. treaties
E. Answer not available in article
King Philip recruited many ______ soldiers and sailors.
warlike
B. strong
C. accomplished
D. timid
E. inexperienced
The ______ Armada set sail on May 9, 1588.
complete
B. warlike
C. independent
D. isolated
E. Answer not available
The two battles left the Spanish fleet _________.
open to change
B. triumphant
C. open to attack
D. defeated
E. discouraged
The Armada was ______ on one side.
closed off
B. damaged
C. alone
D. circled
E. Answer not available in this article

The following passage refers to questions 25-29.

The victory of the small Greek democracy of Athens over the mighty Persian Empire in 490 B.C. is one of the most famous events in history. Darius, king of the Persian Empire, was furious because Athens had interceded for the other Greek city-states in revolt against Persian domination. In anger the king sent an enormous army to defeat Athens. He thought it would take drastic steps to pacify the rebellious part of the empire.

Persia was ruled by one man. In Athens, however, all citizens helped to rule. Ennobled by this participation, Athenians were prepared to die for their city-state. Perhaps this was the secret of the remarkable victory at Marathon, which freed them from Persian rule. On their way to Marathon, the Persians tried to fool some Greek city-states by claiming to have come in peace. The frightened citizens of Delos refused to believe this. Not wanting to abet the conquest of Greece, they fled from their city and did not return until the Persians had left. They were wise, for the Persians next conquered the city of Eritrea and captured its people.

Tiny Athens stood alone against Persia. The Athenian people went to their sanctuaries. There they prayed for deliverance. They asked their gods to expedite their victory. The Athenians refurbished their weapons and moved to the plain of Marathon, where their little band would meet the Persians. At the last moment, soldiers from Plataea reinforced the Athenian troops.

The Athenian army attacked, and Greek citizens fought bravely. The power of the mighty Persians was offset by the love that the Athenians had for their city. Athenians defeated the Persians in both archery and hand combat. Greek soldiers seized Persian ships and burned them, and the Persians fled in terror. Herodotus, a famous historian, reports that 6,400 Persians died, compared to only 192 Athenians.

Athens had _________ the other Greek city-states against the Persians.
refused help to
B. intervened on behalf of
C. wanted to fight
D. given orders for all to fight
E. defeated
Darius took drastic steps to ________ the rebellious Athenians.
weaken
B. destroy
C. calm
D. irritate
E. Answer not available
Their participation _________ to the Athenians.
gave comfort
B. gave honor
C. gave strength
D. gave fear
E. gave hope
The people of Delos did not want to ______ the conquest of Greece.
end
B. encourage
C. think about
D. daydream about
E. Answer not available
The Athenians were _________ by some soldiers who arrived from Plataea.
welcomed
B. strengthened
C. held
D. captured
E. Answer not available

The following passage refers to questions 30-32.

The Trojan War is one of the most famous wars in history. It is well known for the 10-year duration, for the heroism of a number of legendary characters, and for the Trojan horse. What may not be familiar, however, is the story of how the war began.

According to Greek myth, the strife between the Trojans and the Greeks started at the wedding of Peleus, King of Thessaly, and Thetis, a sea nymph. All of the gods and goddesses had been invited to the wedding celebration in Troy except Eris, goddess of discord. She had been omitted from the guest list because her presence always embroiled mortals and immortals alike in conflict.

To take revenge on those who had slighted her, Eris decided to cause a skirmish. Into the middle of the banquet hall, she threw a golden apple marked “for the most beautiful.” All of the goddesses began to haggle over who should possess it. The gods and goddesses reached a stalemate when the choice was narrowed to Hera, Athena, and Aphrodite. Someone was needed to settle the controversy by picking a winner. The job eventually fell to Paris, son of King Priam of Troy, who was said to be a good judge of beauty. Paris did not have an easy job. Each goddess, eager to win the golden apple, tried aggressively to bribe him.

“I’ll grant you vast kingdoms to rule,” promised Hera. “Vast kingdoms are nothing in comparison with my gift,” contradicted Athena. “Choose me and I’ll see that you win victory and fame in war.” Aphrodite outdid her adversaries, however. She won the golden apple by offering Helen, daughter of Zeus and the most beautiful mortal in the land, to Paris. Paris, anxious to claim Helen, set off for Sparta in Greece.

Although Paris learned that Helen was married, he nevertheless accepted the hospitality of her husband, King Menelaus of Sparta. Therefore, Menelaus was outraged for a number of reasons when Paris departed, taking Helen and much of the king’s wealth back to Troy. Menelaus collected his loyal forces and set sail for Troy to begin the war to reclaim Helen.

Eris was known for _________ both mortals and immortals.
scheming against
B. creating conflict amongst
C. feeling hostile toward
D. ignoring
E. comforting
Each goddess tried ______ to bribe Paris.
boldly
B. effectively
C. secretly
D. carefully
E. Answer not available
Athena _________ Hera, promising Paris victory and fame in war.
disregarded the statement of
B. defeated
C. agreed with
D. restated the statement of
E. questioned the statement of

Refer to the following passage for questions 33-37.

One of the most intriguing stories of the Russian Revolution concerns the identity of Anastasia, the youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas II. During his reign over Russia, the czar had planned to revoke many of the harsh laws established by previous czars. Some workers and peasants, however, clamored for more rapid social reform. In 1918, a group of these people known as Bolsheviks overthrew the government. On July 17 or 18, they murdered the czar and what was thought to be his entire family.

Although witnesses vouched that all the members of the czar’s family had been executed, there were rumors suggesting that Anastasia had survived. Over the years, a number of women claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia. Perhaps the most famous claimant was Anastasia Tschaikovsky, who was also known as Anna Anderson.

In 1920, 18 months after the czar’s execution, this terrified young woman was rescued from drowning in a Berlin river. She spent two years in a hospital, where she attempted to reclaim her health and shattered mind. The doctors and nurses thought that she resembled Anastasia and questioned her about her background. She disclaimed any connection with the czar’s family. Eight years later, however, she claimed that she was Anastasia. She said that she had been rescued by two Russian soldiers after the czar and the rest of her family had been killed. Two brothers named Tschaikovsky had carried her into Romania. She had married one of the brothers, who had taken her to Berlin and left her there, penniless and without a vocation. Unable to invoke the aid of her mother’s family in Germany, she had tried to drown herself.

During the next few years, scores of the czar’s relatives, ex-servants, and acquaintances interviewed her. Many of these people said that her looks and mannerisms were evocative of the Anastasia that they had known. Her grandmother and other relatives denied that she was the real Anastasia, however.

Tired of being accused of fraud, Anastasia immigrated to the United States in 1928 and took the name Anna Anderson. She still wished to prove that she was Anastasia, though, and returned to Germany in 1933 to bring suit against her mother’s family. There she declaimed to the court, asserting that she was indeed Anastasia and deserved her inheritance.

In 1957, the court decided that it could neither confirm nor deny Anastasia’s identity. Although it will probably never be known whether this woman was the Grand Duchess Anastasia, her search to establish her identity has been the subject of numerous books, plays, and movies.

Some Russian peasants and workers ______ for social reform.
longed
B. cried out
C. begged
D. hoped
E. thought much
Witnesses ______ that all members of the czar’s family had been executed.
gave assurance
B. thought
C. hoped
D. convinced some
E. Answer not available
Tschaikovsky initially ______ any connection with the czar’s family.
denied
B. stopped
C. noted
D. justified
E. Answer not available
She was unable to ______ the aid of her relatives.
locate
B. speak about
C. call upon
D. identify
E. know
In court she _________ maintaining that she was Anastasia and deserved her inheritance.
finally appeared
B. spoke forcefully
C. gave testimony
D. gave evidence
E. Answer not available

Refer to the following passage for questions 38-39.

King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette ruled France from 1774 to 1789, a time when the country was fighting bankruptcy. The royal couple did not let France’s insecure financial situation limit their immoderate spending, however. Even though the minister of finance repeatedly warned the king and queen against wasting money, they continued to spend great fortunes on their personal pleasure. This lavish spending greatly enraged the people of France. They felt that the royal couple bought its luxurious lifestyle at the poor people’s expense.

Marie Antoinette, the beautiful but exceedingly impractical queen, seemed uncaring about her subjects’ misery. While French citizens begged for lower taxes, the queen embellished her palace with extravagant works of art. She also surrounded herself with artists, writers, and musicians, who encouraged the queen to spend money even more profusely.

While the queen’s favorites glutted themselves on huge feasts at the royal table, many people in France were starving. The French government taxed the citizens outrageously. These high taxes paid for the entertainments the queen and her court so enjoyed. When the minister of finance tried to stop these royal spendthrifts, the queen replaced him. The intense hatred that the people felt for Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette kept building until it led to the French Revolution. During this time of struggle and violence (1789-1799), thousands of aristocrats, as well as the king and queen themselves, lost their lives at the guillotine. Perhaps if Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette had reined in their extravagant spending, the events that rocked France would not have occurred.

The people surrounding the queen encouraged her to spend money ______.
wisely
B. abundantly
C. carefully
D. foolishly
E. joyfully
The minister of finance tried to curb these royal ______.
aristocrats
B. money wasters
C. enemies
D. individuals
E. spenders

Refer to the following passage for questions 40-45.

Many great inventions are initially greeted with ridicule and disbelief. The invention of the airplane was no exception. Although many people who heard about the first powered flight on December 17, 1903 were excited and impressed, others reacted with peals of laughter. The idea of flying an aircraft was repulsive to some people. Such people called Wilbur and Orville Wright, the inventors of the first flying machine, impulsive fools. Negative reactions, however, did not stop the Wrights. Impelled by their desire to succeed, they continued their experiments in aviation.

Orville and Wilbur Wright had always had a compelling interest in aeronautics and mechanics. As young boys they earned money by making and selling kites and mechanical toys. Later, they designed a newspaper-folding machine, built a printing press, and operated a bicycle-repair shop. In 1896, when they read about the death of Otto Lilienthal, the brothers’ interest in flight grew into a compulsion.

Lilienthal, a pioneer in hang-gliding, had controlled his gliders by shifting his body in the desired direction. This idea was repellent to the Wright brothers, however, and they searched for more efficient methods to control the balance of airborne vehicles. In 1900 and 1901, the Wrights tested numerous gliders and developed control techniques. The brothers’ inability to obtain enough lift power for the gliders almost led them to abandon their efforts.

After further study, the Wright brothers concluded that the published tables of air pressure on curved surfaces must be wrong. They set up a wind tunnel and began a series of experiments with model wings. Because of their efforts, the old tables were repealed in time and replaced by the first reliable figures for air pressure on curved surfaces. This work, in turn, made it possible for the brothers to design a machine that would fly. In 1903 the Wrights built their first airplane, which cost less than $1,000. They even designed and built their own source of propulsion-a lightweight gasoline engine. When they started the engine on December 17, the airplane pulsated wildly before taking off. The plane managed to stay aloft for 12 seconds, however, and it flew 120 feet.

By 1905, the Wrights had perfected the first airplane that could turn, circle, and remain airborne for half an hour at a time. Others had flown in balloons and hang gliders, but the Wright brothers were the first to build a full-size machine that could fly under its own power. As the contributors of one of the most outstanding engineering achievements in history, the Wright brothers are accurately called the fathers of aviation.

The idea of flying an aircraft was ______ to some people.
boring
B. distasteful
C. exciting
D. needless
E. Answer not available
People thought that the Wright brothers had ______.
acted without thinking
B. been negatively influenced
C. been too cautious
D. been mistaken
E. acted in a negative way
The Wrights’ interest in flight grew into a ______.
financial empire
B. plan
C. need to act
D. foolish thought
E. Answer not available
Lilienthal’s idea about controlling airborne vehicles was _________ the Wrights.
proven wrong by
B. opposite to the ideas of
C. disliked by
D. accepted by
E. improved by
The old tables were _________ and replaced by the first reliable figures for air pressure on curved surfaces.
destroyed
B. invalidated
C. multiplied
D. approved
E. not used
The Wrights designed and built their own source of _________.
force for moving forward
B. force for turning around
C. turning
D. force for going backward
E. None of the above

Answers and Explanations

B: “Terrestrial” means land. No choice here offers a synonym for “marine,” e.g. nautical/naval/water/seagoing, and no other choices match either marine or terrestrial.
A: “Quagmire” means literally a bog or marsh, and figuratively an involved situation difficult to escape; entanglement is a synonym, more specifically similar than the other choices.
A: Longitudes are imaginary geographical lines running north and south. Latitudes run east and west. The other choices do not equal either latitude or longitude in direction.
C: Topography means the physical features of a land mass. It does not mean coastline (A), mountain range (B), or islands (D).
C: A peninsula is a piece of land connected to the mainland by an isthmus and projecting into the ocean such that it is surrounded on three sides by water. A peninsula is not a coast (A); it is not found inland (B); and it is not a border (D).
B: The passage was found near 50 degrees S latitude. Latitudes are measured horizontally, in relation to the equator or central imaginary line, equidistant between the North and South Poles. Longitudes are measured vertically. Greenwich (A), the location of zero degrees longitude, adopted as the global standard, is both incorrect and never named in the passage. Spain (C), Portugal (D), and Madrid (E) in Spain are also incorrect.
A: Meridians are imaginary geographical circles intersecting the poles. Imaginary lines parallel to the equator (B) are latitudes. The International Date Line is a specific meridian, not an area (C). It is not a land mass (D) as it crosses both water and land.
A:“Amicable” means friendly. It does not mean competitive (B), i.e. oppositional, ambitious, or aggressive; courteous (C), i.e. polite; industrious (D), i.e. hard-working; or chemistry (E): their collaboration was in physics, but moreover, the passage specifically describes their collaboration as “amicable.”
B: “Blithe” means light-hearted. It does not mean strong (A), humorous (B) or funny; strange (D), or envious (E).
B: “Disgruntled” means annoyed. It does not mean hopeless (A), depressed (C), or worried (D).
A: Marie challenged authority by going to study at the Sorbonne, because Warsaw’s university did not admit women. The passage indicates this challenge by describing her “defiantly” leaving Poland for France; i.e., she was defying authority. The passage does not indicate she showed intelligence (B), “behaved” (C), or was distressed (D) or upset by her move.
A:A synonym for “despondently” is “dejectedly,” meaning sadly, with despair or depression. The passage indicates this by describing Curie’s emotional state as one of “heartbreaking anguish” over her husband’s sudden accidental death. She is not described in this passage as worried (B) by her memories, or recalling them tearfully (C), happily (D), or irefully (E), i.e. angrily.
C:The closest synonym for the “feeling of desolation” (despair) described in the passage is wretchedness. Misfortune (A) or ill fate/luck is not as close. Anger (B) is a separate emotion from desolation. Disappointment (D) is also different from desolation, meaning feeling let-down rather than hopeless. Ambition (E) is drive to succeed or accomplish things. It was not Curie’s ambition that faded upon returning to the Sorbonne but her depression.
C: “Disillusioned” means disappointed. It does not mean troubled (A), i.e. concerned or disturbed; worried (B) or anxious; sorrowful (D) or sad; or disturbed (E).
B: “Coagulated” means solidified. Liquid (A) is an opposite of solid. Flowing (C) assumes a liquid, not solid, state. Gas (D) is another opposite of solid. (Three states of matter, like volcanic material, are liquid, solid, and gaseous.)
A: “Buoyant” means able to float. The passage indicates this by indicating that the gases therefore, sank toward earth and suffocated people. Buoyant does not mean visible (B) or possible to see. Able to float/buoyant does not mean able to evaporate (C). Evaporation means turning to vapor, which only liquids can do. Gases are already vapors. Buoyant does not mean invisible (D) or unseen. Able to float does not mean able to condense (E), i.e. turn from vapor to liquid.
B: “Dissect” means to cut apart for study. It does not mean to describe in detail (A), to photograph (C), or to chart (D) a specimen.
B: Meteorologists are scientists who study atmospheric conditions, particularly weather. Scientists who study oceans (A) are oceanographers, i.e. marine scientists. Scientists who study ash (C) do not exist as members of a separate discipline. Climate scientists and many others concerned with its effects study volcanic ash. Scientists who study animal behavior (D) are ethologists or animal behaviorists and do not study ash.
C: Distilled water is purified water. Distilled water is not equivalent to bottled (A), volcanic (B), sea (D), or fountain (E) water.
A: “Supremacy” means unlimited power, not unrestricted growth (B). The passage states that Drake diminished Spain’s supremacy, but does not specifically mention diminishing its territory (C). Drake’s raids enriched England and reduced Spain’s power; no mention is made of eliminating any treaties (D).
B: “Robust” means strong. It does not mean warlike (A), accomplished (C) or competent, timid (D) or fearful, or inexperienced (E).
B: “Martial” means warlike or war-related. It does not mean complete (A), independent (C), or isolated (D).
C: “Vulnerable” means open to attack or susceptible to harm. It does not mean open to change (A) or receptive, triumphant (B) or victorious, defeated (D) or beaten-they were vulnerable to attack first and then consequently were defeated-or discouraged (E), i.e. disheartened or dispirited.
A: The passage indicates the Armada was “blocked” on one side, i.e. closed off rather than damaged (B) (it was damaged extensively, not on one side); alone (C) or circled (D), i.e. surrounded, neither of which can be done on only one side.
B: “Interceded for” means intervened on behalf of, not refused help to (A), wanted to fight (C), given orders for all to fight (D), or defeated (E).
C: “Pacify” means to calm or make peaceful. It does not mean to make weaker (A), to destroy (B), or to irritate (D), i.e. annoy or provoke.
B: “Ennobled” means gave honor to or made noble. It does not mean gave comfort (A) or solace, gave strength (C), i.e. fortified or reinforced, gave fear (D) or frightened, or gave hope (E) or encouraged.
B: To “abet” means to enable, support, or encourage, usually in crime or doing something wrong. It does not mean to end (A), think about (C), or daydream about (D) something.
B: “Reinforced” means strengthened, not welcomed (A), held (C), or captured (D).
B: The passage states that the presence of Eris, goddess of discord, “always embroiled mortals and immortals alike in conflict.” Embroiling them in conflict is creating conflict amongst them. It does not mean scheming against (A) them, feeling hostile toward (C) them, ignoring (D) them, or comforting (E) them.
A: “Aggressively” means boldly. It does not mean effectively (B) or successfully, secretly (C), or carefully (D).
A: “Contradicted” means Athena disregarded Hera’s statement and disputed or countered it. It does not mean she defeated (B) her statement, agreed with (C) it, restated (D) it, or questioned (E) it.
B: To “clamor for” means to cry out for (something). It does not mean to long for (A) it, beg (C) for it, hope (D) for it, or think much (E) “for,” of, or about it.
A: To “vouch” means to give assurance. It does not mean to think (B), hope (C), or convince some (D).
A: “Disclaimed” means denied, i.e. refused or declared untrue. It does not mean stopped (B), noted (C), or justified (D), i.e. substantiated or confirmed, the opposite of denied.
C: She was unable to invoke, i.e. to call upon, the aid of relatives. To invoke does not mean to locate (A) or find; to speak about (B) or discuss; to identify (D), i.e. recognize; or to know (E).
B: “Declaimed” means spoke forcefully. It does not mean finally appeared (A). Though she did also give testimony (C) in court, “declaimed” does not mean to testify; it describes the way she spoke while doing so. “Declaimed” also does not mean she gave evidence (D).
B: “Profusely” means abundantly, copiously, or excessively. It does not mean wisely (A) or carefully (B), which are both opposite in meaning to the excessive connotation of profuse spending. Foolishly (D) can be associated with spending profusely, but does not have the same meaning. Profusely does not mean joyfully (E), i.e. gleefully or happily.
B: “Spendthrifts” means money wasters. It does not mean aristocrats (A), i.e. nobles or privileged people. It does not mean enemies (C) or adversaries. It does not mean individuals (D) or persons. “Spenders” (E) denotes people who spend, but does not convey the sense of wasteful spending or squandering in the same way that “spendthrifts” does.
B: “Repulsive” means distasteful. It does not mean boring (A), exciting (C), or needless (D).
A: “Impulsive” means acting on impulse, i.e. acting without thinking. People thinking the Wrights “impulsive fools” does not mean they thought the Wrights had been negatively influenced (B), too cautious (C), mistaken (D), or had acted in a negative way (E).
C: A “compulsion” is a need or an urge to act. It is not a financial empire (A), a plan (B), or a foolish thought (D).
C: “Repellent” means offensive or hateful; in other words, Lilienthal’s idea was disliked by the Wrights. It does not mean his idea was opposite to the idea of (B) the Wrights. It means the opposite of its being accepted by (D) the Wrights. They found his idea unpleasant rather than improving (E) on it.
B: “Repealed” means invalidated, i.e. disproven or overturned. It does not mean destroyed (A); multiplied (C), i.e. increased/approved (D), an antonym; or unused (E).
A: “Propulsion” is force for propelling or moving forward. It does not mean force for turning around (B), turning (C) (oscillation perhaps), or force for going backward (D) (like repulsion).

Description of Comprehension Passages

The Reading Comprehension passages have academic content and style and include topics from a variety of fields including arts, sciences, social sciences, etc. These passages are comparable to the texts found in freshman university textbooks in North America. You do not need to have specific knowledge of the topic to answer the comprehension questions. Geographical and historical references made in the test are generally related to the United States and Canada. In each test, there are 5 or 6 comprehension passages with 8-12 questions for each passage. The total number of questions for Reading Comprehension is 50.

Helpful Testing Hints

* More than 50% of the time, the main idea of a passage is stated in the first sentence of the paragraph. Sometimes the main idea or topic sentence comes at the end of the paragraph and, on occasion, anywhere in the paragraph. They may not be stated at all, but simply implied. Make a habit of reading the opening and closing statement of each paragraph. The most effective way to answer the main idea question is to ask yourself what the whole passage is about, not just a portion of it. The answers that cover specific details are either too narrow or too broad. The correct answer is usually a restatement of what is said in the whole passage; therefore, the options that have the same words from the reading are almost always incorrect.

Main Idea Questions

What is the main purpose of the passage?
What does the passage mainly discuss?
With what topic is the passage mainly concerned?
Which of the following does the passage mainly discuss?

* Pay attention to signal words and phrases. They help you understand the relationship between the ideas within a paragraph(s).

Cause-and-effect words — as a result, therefore
Time words — meanwhile, before
Contrast words — in contrast, conversely
Addition words — also, in addition
Emphasis words — more important, remember

* Watch for questions that test your knowledge of the relationships between the topic and the supporting ideas. Understand definitions, recognize examples, understand explanations, find similar or unlike characteristics of two things or whatever, learn what produces a result and what its effects are.

* Go over the passages with familiar subjects. Then read the passages whose topics are less familiar.

Description of the types of questions tested in the comprehension passages

* Main idea questions test your understanding of the whole passage rather the individual parts.

* Specific detail questions are based on the supports presented in the reading. Scan the passage to spot the key words for the specific details. Some specific detail questions are negative and are singled by the words NOT, EXCEPT, MOST ,and LEAST. If you cannot find the correct answer for negative specific details, eliminate the choices given in the reading and choose the choice that remains as the correct response.

* Inference questions ask you to draw a logical conclusion from what you read in the passage. The answers to these types of questions are not explicitly stated.

* Language expression questions include pronouns and vocabulary questions.

* Pronoun questions ask you to spot the correct antecedent or noun to which the pronoun refers to. To locate the correct answer to these types of questions,concentrate on the sentence(s) before and a few sentences after the pronoun appears.

* Vocabulary questions ask you the meaning of a word or phrase within the context of the passage.

* Questions about the organization of the passage, the author’s point of view, analogy, or the following paragraph are not as common as the other types.

Sample Passage

The sugar maple is a hard maple tree. It can grow as tall as 100 feet and as wide as
2. 4 feet. The sugar maple is commercially valued for its sap, which is used in the
3. making of maple syrup. Two northeastern states, Vermont and New York,
4. rank as major producers of maple syrup. In Canada, Quebec’s annual syrup
5. production surpasses 2.5 million gallons. To make pure maple syrup, holes are
6. made in the trunk of the tree at the end of the winter or in early spring. The water-
7. like sap seeps through the holes and runs through a plastic spout that is put into
8. the hole. Afterward, the collected sap is transferred into tubes that are hooked up
9. to a tank kept in the sugar house. Then the sap goes through the boiling process.
10. Boiling enhances the flavor as well as adding color to the sap. Once the sugar
11. content of the sap is about 65-66%, the sap is ready to be strained and marketed.
12. The maple syrup found in the supermarkets, however, is usually not pure and
13. has other additives. The color of pure maple may range from golden honey to
14. light brown. Between 35 to 50 gallons of sap are needed to produce 1 gallon of
15. maple syrup. Also popular for strength and finish of its wood, the sugar maple tree
16. has been put to use in furniture, interior woodwork, flooring, and crates.

What is the main purpose of the passage?
To examine the economic viability of a tree
B. To list a number of the major producers of maple syrup
C. To provide information on how maple syrup is made
D. To emphasize the use of the maple lumber in furniture and other products

This is a general inference question. Most of the passage explains the technique used for making maple syrup. The best answer is (C). The choice (A) is inaccurate. The choices (B) and (D) are both specific details but not the main idea of the passage.

For which of the following words does the author provide a definition?
The sugar maple (line 1)
B. A tank (line 9)
C. Additives (line 13)
D. Furniture (line 16)

This specific detail question tests your understanding of a definition. Only the sugar maple (line 1) is defined. The choices (B), (C), and (D), even though mentioned in the passage, are not defined.

According to the passage, which of the following periods is ideal for sapping?
Late January through April
B. May to late July
C. August to early October
D. Early November to late December

This is a specific detail question. Based on the information in the passage, sapping takes place at the end of the winter and in early spring. Therefore, (A) is the best answer.

Where in the passage does the author first mentions the consistency of the sap?
Lines 6-8
B. Line 9
C. Lines 10-11
D. Lines 14-15

This specific detail question directs you to the exact line and asks for the first occurrence of the word. These types of questions are relatively easy to locate. The correct response is (A). Pay attention that numbers are always in ascending order.

All of the following is true about boiling EXCEPT
It enhances the color.
B. It improves the flavor.
C. It increases the sugar content.
D. It reduces the shelf life of the syrup.

This specific detail question is negative. In order to answer it correctly, eliminate all the choices A, B, and C that are used in the paragraph; therefore, (D) is the correct choice.

What can be inferred about the production of maple syrup?
It is rather simple, but time-consuming.
B. It is labor intensive.
C. Its processing demands complicated equipment.
D. The higher the volume, the less predictable the quality is.

This question tests your inference ability. The answer to the question is not directly stated in the passage. (A) is the best answer. The production technique is quite straightforward, but it takes time. The producers have to depend on the natural flow of the sap.

In line 11, the phrase “to be strained” could best be replaced by
To be tried
B. To be purified
C. To be filtered
D. To be solidified

This is a language expression question. The question is based on the closest synonym for the phrase “to be strained.” Even though all the choices are grammatically sound, (C) is the most logical choice according to the context.

In lines 13-14, what is the author’s purpose in mentioning “golden honey to light brown”?
To provide a visual description
B. To make the reading more technical
C. To illustrate the difference in quality
D. To persuade the reader to buy the product

This inference question asks the author’s purpose. The passage is non-technical; therefore, the choice (B) is inaccurate. The choice (C ) is incorrect because the difference in quality is not a concern of the passage. The choice (D) is incorrect considering the author is not persuading the reader to buy any specific product. Therefore, the best choice is (A).

The word “its” in line 15 refers to

(A) Sap
(B) Maple syrup
(C) Color
(D) The sugar maple tree

This is a language expression question as well. This type of question always gives you the line number, so it is easy to locate. The correct answer is based on the antecedent, the noun to which the pronoun refers. Reading the sentence, we notice that “its” is a possessive pronoun which refers to the noun phrase, the sugar maple tree; therefore, (D) is the correct choice.

The relationship between the wood and the maple tree is similar to the relationship between

(A) a vase and a bouquet of flowers
(B) a painter and a canvas
(C) a novel and a writer
(D) an inlet and a sea

This analogy question tests your understanding of the relationship between the ideas. These types of questions need attention. The analogy here is the relationship between a part and a whole. The choice (A) shows the relationship between cut flowers and a vase. The choice (B) shows the relationship between the performer and the tool. (C) is incorrect because it indicates the relationship between a creator (writer) and the work created (novel). (D) is the correct choice. The relationship between an inlet (a part) and a sea (a whole) is similar to the relationship between the wood (a part) and the maple tree (a whole).

Which of the following would best describe the organization of the passage?

(A) A persuasive argument in favor of the maple syrup industry is advanced.
(B) A comparison and contrast between pure and commercial maple syrup is made.
(C) A cause and effect analysis of the maple syrup production is presented.
(D) A step-by-step explanation of how maple syrup is made is given.

This question tests your understanding of how the author organizes the information in the passage. Most of the passage explains a step-by-step process of how maple syrup is made; thus, the correct choice is (D). The author does not attempt to convince the reader; consequently, the choice (A) is not true. The passage neither expresses the causes of the maple syrup production nor lists the similarities between pure and commercial maple syrup; therefore, the choices (B) and (C) are incorrect.

The following paragraph will probably discuss

(A) Ways to eradicate diseases attacking maple trees
(B) Other uses of the sugar maple tree
(C) Marketing plans for import distribution
(D) The diversity of the ecosystem

This is an inference question. Based on the conclusion we can draw from the passage, the correct choice is (B). Since the sugar maple tree’s popularity for strength and finish of its wood is mentioned at the end of the passage, it makes sense to know something about its other uses. The choices (A), (C), and (D) can not be inferred from the passage.

The new test of TOEFL starting July 1995 will have:

* At least two or three vocabulary or phrase questions. These questions are based on the meaning of the vocabulary or the phrase within the context of the passage. Sometimes these questions test your understanding of the meaning of a complicated sentence or an important comment or idea expressed in a paragraph.

* More pronoun and antecedent questions.

* More detailed questions about the methods of development in the passage. These questions test your understanding of definitions and explanations presented for a term or a word in the passage. Sometimes the specific lines on which the definitions and explanations appear are mentioned.

Effective Ways to Improve Your Vocabulary

* If you do not know the meaning of a given word, the prefix and suffix information can help you unlock its meaning. Study the common prefix list to increase your knowledge of a word. To illustrate, “nourished” means having proper nourishment. “Malnourished ” means improper nourishment. The prefix “mal” means bad or improper. In addition, learning common suffixes can be an extremely helpful tool for the acquisition of new words. For instance, suffixes can help you with the understanding of different parts of speech: nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs. If you add the suffix “ment” to the verb develop, the new word development is a noun. Further, if you decide to add the suffix “al” to the noun development, the new word developmentalis an adjective.

* The best way to increase your vocabulary is to study 15-20 new words a day. Write the new word and its pronunciation on the front of a three by five inch index card; on the back, write the definition of the word and the sentence in which you saw the word. Keep reviewing your index card pile and adding new vocabulary. Before long, you will have a rich assortment of words.

How to Tackle the Vocabulary

* Be careful with word choice that has the prefix clue, which can be a distractor rather than the correct response. The prefix “ex” means “out,” but the word “extension ” is not a synonym for “exterior.”

The exterior of modern churches lacks typical Gothic architectural features.

(A) Appearance
(B) Outside
(C) Extension
(D) Facade

The correct choice is (B).

* Do not study unusual or technical words related to specific fields of study such as chemistry, biology, geology, and physics. The vocabulary in the Reading Comprehension section includes only general words that have synonyms. Definitions of minerals, animals, planets, chemicals, plants, etc. are not tested. Other types of words labeled as Slang, Informal, Nonstandard, Rare, Vulgar, Poetic, and Archaic are not tested.

Helpful Testing Hints

* Use context clue to guess the meaning of the words or phrases tested in the reading comprehension passages.

* From the four answer choices given, choose the word or the phrase that is closest in meaning, or is a synonym, to the vocabulary or the phrase. Some of the choices might have similar meanings, but only one will be the most appropriate meaning within the context.

* The vocabulary items vary in degree of difficulty. While some may be easy, others may be semi-difficult or difficult. Study all three types of vocabulary.

* Nouns and adjectives as well as verbs and adverbs are tested in the vocabulary section. The ratio varies from test to test. Some vocabulary items are two-or three-word phrasal (for example, get into , look over , count on ).

* The words tested on TOEFL are similar to those used in college-level textbooks.

* If you do not know the meaning of a word or a phrase, read the entire sentence because the sentence may provide additional clues. The sentences used before or after the sentence in which the word or phrase appears often supply clues to the meaning of the word or phrase. The following example shows this point.

Although mint hybrids are infertile, true mints can be propagated from seeds.

(A) Reproduced
(B) Selected
(C) Planted
(D) Derived

Pay attention to the context clue and construction of this sentence. The information in the dependent clause is in contrast with the information in the independent clause. The word infertile means barren, something that can not reproduce, while the word propagate means reproduce; therefore, the correct response is (A).

* DO NOT be tricked into choosing the correct answer on the basis of its grammatical form. All the possible answers have the same grammatical form. For instance, if the vocabulary is a phrasal, all the answers will be phrasal, but the correct answer does not necessarily have the same preposition. Look at the example.

Coral, a gem stone, is related to living plants.

(A) Compatible with
(B) Partial to
(C) Accompanied by
(D) Associated with

Answers and Explanations

Description of Comprehension Passages

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