HY PRACTICE PAPER (XI)

SECTION A: READING COMPREHENSION: Marks 26

Q.1. Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:
1. We are what we eat. The type of food we eat has both immediate and long-
term affects on us, at all the three levels of the body, the mind and the spirit.
Food which is tamasik (i.e. Stale or leftover) in nature is bound to generate
stress as it tends to upset the normal functioning of the human body. Fresheners
should be avoided. Taking piping hot tea/milk or steaming hot food, whenever
available, must be preferred. Excessive use of condiments also disturbs one’s
usually calm attitude. Further, it is a mistaken belief that smoking or drinking,
even in moderation, relieves stress. Simple meals with one or two food items,
rather than too many lavish dishes, are advisable. Also, vegetarian diet is
preferable. Although it is customary to serve fruits with food items, it is not the
right thing to do. This is because different kinds of digestive secretions are
produced by the stomach for variant food items. Mixing up too many varieties
of food items in one meal creates problems for the digestive system. In fact, any
one type of fruit, preferably taken in the morning is better.
2. On an average, we eat almost three to four times the quantity of food than we
actually need. A lot of body’s energy is used up for digesting the excess food. It
is said that after a particular level of food intake, the ‘food actually eats one up’.
3. It is always good to eat a little less than your ‘full-stomach’ capacity.
Besides, never eat food unless you are really hungry. To have dinner at 8 or 9
P.M. after a heavy snack around 5 or 6 P.M. in the evening is asking for trouble.
In fact, skipping a meal is always good if the stomach is upset. There are
varying views on the benefits of fasting, but we will not discuss them here.
However, giving a break to one’s stomach, at least once a week, by having only
fruit or milk, etc. may be worth a try.
4. While a little bit of water taken with meals is all right, drinking 30 to 60 ML
of water with food is not advisable. Water, taken an hour or so before or after
meals, is good for digestion. One’s diet must be balanced with all the required
nutrients for a healthy living.
5. Also remember, excess of everything is bad. Related to the problem of stress,
excessive intake of salt is definitely out. Too much of sugar, fried food and
chillies are not good either. Over-indulgence and excessive craving for a
particular taste/type of food generates rajasik (aggressive) or at worst, tamasik
(dull) tendencies. An even more important aspect of the relationship between
food and stress lies not so much in what or how much we eat but how the food
is taken. For example, food eaten in great hurry or in a state of anger or any
other negative state of mind is bound to induce stress. How the food is served is
also very important. Not only the presentation, cutlery, crockery etc. play a
role, the love and affection with which the food is served is also significant.
Finding faults with food while it is being eaten is a bad habit. It is better not to
eat the food you do not like, rather than finding faults with it.
6. It is good to have regular food habits. Workaholics who do not find time to
eat food at proper meal time invite stomach ulcers. One must try to enjoy one’s
food, and therefore, eating at the so-called lunch/dinner meetings is highly
inadvisable. Every morsel of food should be enjoyed with a totally peaceful
state of mind. Food and discussions should not be mixed. There are accepted
ways to ‘charge’ the food we eat. Prayer is perhaps ‘the best method for
energizing the food and it does definite additional good at no extra cost.
By: Lt. Gen. M. M. Walia
1.1 On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer the following
questions by choosing the most appropriate option. 10x1=10
i. Tamasik food influences a person by
(a) generating stress (b) making a person energetic (c) generating large amount
of energy (d) making a person bold.
ii. Generally what incorrect belief do people practise at the table?
(a) Smoking helps to digest food (b) Smoking or drinking even in moderation
relieves stress (c) Pickles add to taste. (d) Condiments help to enhance
appetite.
iii. The writer says that the “food actually eats one up” because the
(a) Digestion takes too much time. (b) Excessive intake of food takes a lot of
body’s energy to digest it. (c) Food sustains the body. (d) Person becomes
healthy.
iv. Rajasik tendencies are generated due to:
(a) Over indulgence in fried food. (b) Too much use of spicy food. (c) Over
indulgence and excessive craving for a particular taste. (d) Excess of
everything.
v. .......should not be taken?
(a) Fresheners (b) Junk food (c) condiments (d) All of these
vi. It is always good to eat less than your....... capacity.
(a) actual (b) eating (c) full stomach (d) digestive
vii. Select the best preference of consuming food and water.
(i) Water taken an hour or so before or after meals, is good for digestion.
(ii) Take balanced diet with required nutrients
(iii) 30 to 60 ml of water with food is not advisable
(iv) A little bit of water taken with meals is all right

(a) iv, iii, ii, i (b) ii, i, iv, iii (c) iv, iii, i, ii (d) i, ii, iii, iv
viii. Here, the word ‘charge’ means:
(a) to impose or ask as a price of fee (b) to attack by rushing violently against
(c) to accuse formally (d) to feel full of vigour
ix. What does ‘induce’ mean:
(a) reduce (b) cause, influence (c) aggressive (d) to intake
x. Find the word in the passage with the meaning ‘to avoid extremes’.
(a) moderation (b) condiments (c) secretion (d) excessive
Q.2. Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow:
Silver
Silver has been regarded as something precious for thousands of years. By 700
BCE, it was used to make coins. The production of silver grew over the
centuries, but when Europeans first went to America, silver began to be used in
many new and different ways.
By the 19th century, nearly 120 million troy ounces were being produced
annually. Now, more than 5000 years after ancient cultures first began to mine
this precious metal, an average of 671 million troy ounces is mined every year.
In earlier times, silver was thought to have magical properties and it was
considered to be useful in keeping bad spirits away.
Nowadays, most people think of silver in relation to ornaments. But it is
significant for its antibacterial properties too. The ancient Phoenicians kept
water, wine and vinegar in silver vessels to ensure freshness. It is only recently,
however, that scientists have discovered how silver works. Quite simply, silver
destroys the ability of bacteria to form the chemical bonds which are essential to
their survival. When bacteria and silver come into contact, the bacterial cells fall
apart. Today, there are bandages and ointments that use silver as an active
ingredient. Silver promotes the growth of new cells, which in turn increases the
rate of healing. This makes silver especially valuable for treating burns and
wounds.
Another key use for silver is in the millions of water purifiers that are sold each
year. Silver prevents bacteria from building up in filters so that they can work
effectively. Research has shown that silver, together with oxygen, cleans water.
This means that other chemicals, such as chlorine, do not have to be used. Silver
is therefore starting to be added to water purification systems in hospitals,
community water systems and swimming pools. Scientists hope that silver will
be able to be used in helping to produce clean drinking water in countries where
water-borne illness is a problem. Current research shows that this use of silver is
an exciting development for the global water supply.
In the past, silver was often used to decorate places of worship, and many
people saw it when they went to pray. Today, there is probably much more
silver around us, but we do not necessarily see it. For example, every time you
travel in a motor vehicle you are surrounded by pieces of silver. Every
electrical action in a modern car is activated with silver-coated contacts. Basic
functions such as starting the engine and opening power windows all need a
special switch that has a silver covering. Another important feature for our
driving safety is the silver-ceramic lines fitted into the rear window. The heat
created by these lines clears the rear window of mist and ice so that we can see
clearly out of it.
Silver is just as valuable today as it has been throughout human history.
2.1 On the basis of your understanding of the passage, answer any eight of
the following questions by choosing the most appropriate option. 8x1=8
i. When did silver started to be used for more things than plates and coins?
(a) When Europeans first went to America (b) When Turkey produced (c) Both
(a) and (b) (d) Neither (a) nor (b)
ii. How long ago was silver first mined?
(a) 5000 years ago (b) More than 5000 years ago (c) By 700 BCE (d) By the
19th century
iii. According to the chart, which is the highest silver-producing country, and
how much silver does it produces per year?
(a) Country: Kazakhstan; Amount: 17 million troy ounces (b) Country: Iran;
Amount: 17 million troy ounces (c) Country: India; Amount: 3 million troy
ounces (d) Country: Kazakhstan; Amount: 3 million troy ounces
iv. What do most people today associate silver with?
(a) ornaments (b) coated utensils (c) coins (d) filteration
v. How does silver destroy bacteria?
(a) Destroys bacteria’s ability to form chemical bonds (b) Makes cells fall apart
(c) Both (a) and (b) (d) Neither (a) nor (b)
vi. Why is silver useful in treating skin injuries?
(a) promotes growth of new cell (b) prevents cells from healing (c) falls the
bacterial cells (d) used in bandages
vii. What health problem might silver prevent in some countries?
(a) burn problems (b) air borne viruses (c) water borne illness (d) health
problems
viii. Why is silver used in the rear window of a car?
(a) for driving safety (b) it clears mist and ice (c) it enables to see clearly (d)
All of these
ix. According to the chart, which is the lowest silver producing country?
(a) Kazakhstan (b) Iran (c) Indonesia (d) Turkey
Q.3. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follows:
1. In life, you’ll always come across situations where there will be someone else
who’s better than you, especially there is no one quality or standard that people
can be judged on. There will always be someone who ‘looks better, has more
money or is more intelligent than you. How you choose to approach these
situations, of course, depends on the perspective you take. People in themselves
aren’t intimidating, it’s the opinions you form about them that make you feel so.
Rather than judging people on a single attribute and getting intimidated, be
comfortable with who you are and approach other people as complete
individuals rather than a bundle of good or bad attributes.
2. The key to not letting others intimidate you is to know your own worth.
Don’t let your sense of if be defined by what others think of you or how you
compare yourself to them. Know what you are, and be comfortable in your skin.
Instead of feeling threatened and letting your ego in the way, you could benefit
a great deal by being around people who might be better than you in some ways.
Respect others for what they are and use these opportunities to learn from the
strengths and virtues of others.
3. Don’t get bogged down by what you don’t have or can’t do. We all have
limitations. Learn to accept them and focus on your strengths. A lot of times, we
come under pressure from what people we believe to be more popular and
influential than us, in a bid to fit in with them. However, at times like these, it’s
important for you to stay true to yourself and say ‘no’ when you’re expected to
do something that makes you uncomfortable.
4. Your first response to an intimidating person or situation would probably be
to avoid them altogether. However, avoidance only goes on to increase your
anxiety. Confront these situations head on, with more and more practice, you’ll
start finding these situations easier to deal with. Always keep in mind that
everybody has flaws and everyone has his/her own share of struggles, even if
you aren’t able to spot them. Our self-esteem gets lowered when we focus too
much on our weaknesses and neglect what we get right. Change this pattern and
start giving yourself credit for your strengths and successes.
3.1 On the basis of your reading of the passage make notes on it, using
headings and subheadings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever
necessary-minimum 4) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an
appropriate title to it. 1x5=5
3.2 Write a summary of the above passage in about 50 words. 1x3=3