CBSE Class 7 English Reading Skills Passage Writing
CBSE Class 7 English Reading Skills Passage Writing
Read the passages given below and answer the questions that follow:
PASSAGE 1
the giraffe is the tallest of all living land animals. A male can go up to 18 feet and a female upto 15 feet. Such height enables them to escape the competition for ground level grass that exists among other leaf-eaters. It also gives him a long range of vision. He takes the warning of the approaching enemy early.
Giraffes eat a variety of leaves, but acacia leaves are their favourite diet. In spring when many trees are not in leaf, they spend 80 per cent of the day eating. In summer, when trees are in full leaf, they need only 15 per cent. The rest of the time is spent in resting and quarrelling.
A giraffe’s long neck is made up like that of man and most other mammals, of only seven vertebrae. The bones are attached to one another with ball and socket joints. These make the neck flexible. It can run at 50 km per hour.
Rising from a lying position is a problem for such a large animal. So it usually keeps standing even while it sleeps.
To reach water with such a long neck and legs, a giraffe spreads its front legs wide apart. Then it lowers its neck to drink. This awkward position makes it easy for the lion to attack it.
Questions
On tbe basis of your reading of the above passage fill in the blanks with suitable words:
- A giraffe is the …………..(a) of all land animals. The height of a…………… (b) giraffe can go upto 18 feet. The (c) ………….of a female giraffe can be upto 15 feet. With this height it doesn’t have to ………………………(d) with other animals for leaves. This enables it to see its (e) …………… from a long distance. It, however, creates problem in reaching (f) …………..in tanks.
- Find words from the above passage that mean opposite to the following:
(a) dead (b) detached (c) stiff (d) hind.
Answers
- 1. (a) tallest (b) male (c) height (d) compete (e) enemy (f)water
- (a) living (fo) attached (c) flexible (d) front
PASSAGE 2
A volcano is a burning mountain with a great hole running deep into the earth. Out of it come smoke, gases and stones. The mouth of the opening is called the crater of the valcano.
Volcanoes are not always burning. Sometimes a volcano will remain quiet for centuries. And then it will suddenly become active. This is called volcanic eruption.
When the eruption takes place, great clouds of ashes, dust, gas and steam rise from the crater. Loud noises come from the crater. After sometime, white hot molten rock, called lava begins to flow down the mountain sides. This may go on for days or weeks.
Then the volcano will ‘go to sleep’ again for many years. Most volcanoes are found near the seas.
Questions
- 1. On the basis of your reading of the above passage complete the following:
(a) A volcano is a burning mountain which .
(b) When a volcano becomes active, .
(c) Lava refers to .
(d) A crater is the mouth of the .
(e) Most volcanoes are found . - Find words from the above passage that mean opposite to:
(a) closing (b) dormant (c) far
Answers
- 1. (a) spits fire from a deep hole in the earth
(b) ashes, dust, steam, smoke and lava rise from its mouth
(c) white hot molten rock
(d) opening on the top of a volcanic mountain
(e) near the sea - (a) opening (b) active (c) near
PASSAGE 3
A myth has been built around the pelican, one of the oldest surviving birds. It is a com¬monly held belief that the mother feeds her chicks on her own blood. So people have regarded the pelican as most affectionate and dutiful bird.
The large bill of the bird makes it very easy to recognise it. It has a short tail, short legs, long wings and a large bag under its bill. Because of its webbed toes, the pelican finds walking on the land difficult.
However, it is a delight to watch these birds in flight. The pelican has figured among the largest of birds. It has a wing span of upto 2.75 metres, and weighs between 4.5 and 11 kg. It lives in places with a moderate climate. It migrates to India, Africa and Iran in winter because its wings do not give sufficient protection against the cold.
The brown pelican is the smallest of the pelicans. It dives its head long into water from quite a height to get at its prey. The other six species of pelicans have a white plummage.
Pelicans are very sociable birds. They travel, rest, nest and even fish together. The young pelicans take wing when they are about two months old. The nests of pelicans are far from the source of any food. Therefore, the adults have to fly great distances to get food.
Questions
- Below you can find a summary of the above passage. Fill in each blank with one word/phrase to complete it.
Pelican is one of the oldest (a) ……………birds. It is believed that its young ones are
fed by the mother’s (b) . …………..Perhaps due to this, pelican is regarded as the (c) ……….and dutiful bird. It has long (d)…………… , webbed feet and a very short tail. Pelican finds it difficult to walk on land because of its (e)……………… . It lives in places where the climate is (j)………….. . In all, there are (g) ………..species of pelicans. - Find words from the above passage that mean the same as
(a) enough (b) friendly
Answers
- 1. (a) surviving (b) own blood (c) most affectionate (d) wings
(e) webbed toes (f) moderately cold (g) seven. - (a) sufficient (b) sociable
PASSAGE 4
There was a lion who was the king of the forest. He was big, fierce and strong. All the other animals brought him gifts from every corner of the forest. They were really afraid of him.
‘King must have ministers to help him’, the lion thought one day. And he sent for the fox.
You are known to be veiy wise and clever. I want you to be my Home Minister.’
“Many many thanks for this honour, your majesty”, said the fox, bowing low.
Then he called a panther and said, “You are known to be veiy alert and swift-footed. You will be my Defence Minister.”
“Thank you, Sir,” said the panther.
The next to be summoned was a crow.
“You can fly high and can see distant objects. So youll be my Foreign Minister.”
“I am grateful to you, my master,” said the crow. The three ministers swore to remain
loyal to the king. The lion, in return promised to feed and protect them.
Questions
- On the basis of the reading of the above passage complete the following sentences:
(a) The forest animals were afraid of the lion because
(b) The new idea that came to the lion’s mind was
(c) The lion appointed the fox his Home Minister because
(d) The lion appointed the panther his Defence Minister because
(e) The lion appointed the crow his Foreign Minister because . - Find words from the above passage that mean the same as
(a) violent (b) watchful (c) very far
Answers
- (a) he was big, fierce and strong
(b) to have ministers to help him
(c) of his cleverness
(d) of his altertness
(e) of his ability to fly high and see distant objects. - (a) fierce (b) alert (c) distant
PASSAGE 5
The system of education in our country is defective. It is not keeping pace with the pas¬sage of time. It follows the pattern which was valid five decades ago.
The aim of education is to prepare students for the tough battle of life. The basic needs of life are a sound mind in a sound body, and skill to make a living. It widens the sphere of knowledge and builds our character. In short, education should turn out a strong team of responsible citizens.
Education has to be related to life and also the needs of the nation. Not gold but only men of character make a nation great and strong.
It is unfortunate that our policy-makers give little importance to moral education and noble values. They set up schools and colleges only to turn out an army of graduates, good for nothing. We need men with brain, we need good scientists and technicians, we need tough soldiers for the army.
Education for all sounds sweet. But mere slogans and schemes on paper won’t take us far. Our leaders don’t have the will to serve the nation. Also schemes fail at the ground level.
Questions
- On the basis of the reading of the above passage, complete the following sen¬tences:
(a) Our education system is wrong because
(b) The aim of education is to
(c) Our nation needs
(d) Men of strong character alone make
(e) All our experiments fail to improve the quality of education because - Find words from the above passage that mean the opposite to
(a) soft/delicate (b) sickly/weak (c) near
Answers
- (a) it is outdated
(b) prepare students for hard battle of life
(c) responsible citizens
(d) a nation strong and great
(e) the policy-makers do not give importance to moral education. - (a) tough (b) sound (c) far
PASSAGE 6
Using car phones while driving can be far more dangerous than driving under the influence of liquor.
Latest research says drivers using these mobile phones as a means of faster day-to-day communications may be heading for an accident. The study has shattered the common belief that drinking is the chief cause of the majority of road mishaps.
Talking on mobile phones increases the risk to one’s life compared to driving after being drunk. The findings of the study are based on the survey of several cases of road acci- i dents.
In fact, a study of the records of drivers involved in 699 such mistakes showed that the risk of accident for those who talk on phone while driving was at least four times higher compared to those driving in a state of drunkenness.
The only advantage for those driving with cellular phone was that they could summon immediate help through these phones. The study which is relevant for the entire world is relevant for India as well. Here too these phones are being used increasingly for communication and business transactions.
Questions
- On the basis of your reading of the above passage complete the following sentences.
(a) Using car phones while driving is very dangerous because
(b) Accidents on the road can be caused because of
(c) Latest research has made it clear that
(d) With the help of a mobile phone one can
(e) Cell phones are being used increasingly in India for . - Find a word from the above passage that means the same as
(a) risky (b) accidents (c) call
Answers
- (a) it diverts the mind of the driver
(b) talking on mobile phones and driving after being drunk
(c) drinking is not the chief cause of road accidents
(d) summon immediate help
(e) communication and business transactions - (a) dangerous (b) mishaps (c) summon
Read the passages given below and answer the questions that follow:
PASSAGE 1
Conversation is a fine art. It is the art of exchanging thought. It is an art which anybody can cultivate or master. Not everybody can paint or play music, but almost everyone can talk. Thus it affords the greatest pleasure to the greatest number. “To talk”, says R.L. Sleversan, “is our chief business in the world. And talk is by far the most accessible of pleasures. It costs nothing in money, it is all profit. It completes our education, makes friends and can be enjoyed at any age.
Conversation is indeed the most teachable of all the arts. All you need to do is to find a subject that interests you and your listeners.
Hobbies are, for example, numberless hobbies to talk about. But the important thing is that you must talk about the other fellow’s hobby rather than your own. Therein lies the secret of your popularity. There is nothing that pleases people so much as your interest in their interest.
It is just as important to know what subjects to avoid and what subjects to select for good conversation. If you don’t want to be set down as a bore, avoid certain unpleasant topics. Avoid talking about yourself unless you are asked to do so. Sickness or death bores everybody. The only one who willingly listens to such talk is the doctor, but he gets sad for it. You must also know not only what to say but also how to say it.
- Answer the following questions briefly:
(a) How does the author define and explain the art of conversation?
(b) How is talking easier to learn than other fine arts?
(c) What are the subjects one can easily talk about?
(d) Which topics usually bore the listener?
(e) What should be avoided unless you are asked to do so? - Find out words from the above passage similar in meaning to the f0llower
(a) acquire or develop (b) within reach (c) make happy.
Answers
- (a) Conversation is a fine art easier to learn and within everybody’s reach.
(b) It is easier to become a good talker than a master painter or musician.
(c) One can easily talk about hobbies of the listener
(d) One should avoid discussing unpleasant topics like sickness or death
(e) Avoid talking about yourself unless you are asked to do so. - (a) cultivate (b) accessible (c) please.
PASSAGE 2
Do you know that around 270 eucalyptus trees or 460 bamboo plants are saved when we produce one tonne of hand made paper? It is eco-friendly hand-made paper that also checks pollution of water, land and air. Large quantities of polluting chemicals are used by paper mills. .
Hand-made paper is the best form of recycled paper. It has a fine surface for writing. It is also strong enough for making drawings.
Paper manufacturing is a very old tradition. It was invented in China nearly two thousand years back. Indians used the leaves of palm trees for writing. Papyrus is a! kind of paper made from a reed of the same name. It grew on the banks of the River Nile, and was used in Egypt.
The hand-made paper industry flourished in India during the Mughal period. But it died with the setting up of paper mills in the 18th and 19th centuries. Mahatma Gandhi revived it during the freedom movement. Today it is a fast growing industry.
- Answer the following questions briefly:
(a) Why is hand-made paper becoming more and more popular?
(b) Mention two features of hand-made paper.
(c) What did Indians use for writing when there was no paper?
(d) What is papyrus?
(e) Why did the hand-made paper industry die in India in the 18th and 19th centuries? - Find words from the above passage that mean the same as:
(a) control (b) prospered (c) bring back to life.
Answers
- (a) Hand-made paper is becoming more and more popular because it is eco-friendly
and checks pollution of water, land and air.
(b) It has a fine surface for writing.
It is also strong enough for making drawings.
(c) They used the leaves of palm trees.
(d) Papyrus is a kind of paper made from a reed.
(e) Hand-made paper industry died in India in the 18th and 19th centuries be¬cause paper mills got established. - (a) check (b) flourished (c) revive
PASSAGE 3
We must do all we can to stop conflicts and civil war. Most conflicts happen in poor countries, especially which are badly governed or where power and wealth are not dis-tributed fairly between different tribal or religious groups. So the best way to check fight¬ing is to make a political arrangement in which all groups have their representatives. The need is to ensure human rights and economic development of all.
The next fundamental freedom is one that is not mentioned in the UN charter. In 1945, the leaders could not imagine that such a situation would arise. That is the freedom of future generations to live on this planet.
Even now many of us have not understood its importance. We are using up the limited resources for our present use. We are over using and even wasting them. We are, in fact, robbing our children of their right to live.
We must preserve our forests, fisheries and wildlife. All of these are collapsing because of our own habit of consuming or destroying them.
Questions
- Answer the following questions briefly:
(a) Why do most conflicts happen in poor countries?
(b) What is the best way to check conflicts?
(c) What is meant by The freedom of future generation to live?
(d) How are we robbing our children of their basic right?
(e) What must we preserve for our children? - Find words from the passage that mean the same as
(a) fighting (b) keep safely (c) coming to end
Answers
- (a) Most conflicts happen in poor countries because they are generally badly
governed.
(b) The best way to check conflicts is to make a political arrangement in which all groups have their representatives.
(c) It means-the right of the coming generation to live.
(d) We are using up the limited resources for our present use. Thus, we are doing injustice to the future generation.
(e) We must save our forest and fisheries for use by our great grandchildren. - (a) conflict (h) preserve (c) collapsing
PASSAGE 4
Food can maintain and save life. It can destroy life as well. Proper food serves as medicine, improper food works as poison. A little care about the quality and quantity of food will
keep us healthy and happy. If we go about eating all sorts of things, we shall become sick. We take pride in calling ourselves civilized. Being sensible means to know the difference between good and bad, right and wrong. It will not do to become slaves to our tongue or taste. Even cattle, birds and beasts eat only what is best for their body.
We mostly eat processed food and refined sugar. We pay heavily for junk food, for Chipese dishes or deep fried snacks. As a result we catch diseases. We have drifted away from mother nature. We laugh at the rules of hygiene, healthy diet and the advice of our elders. This has given rise to diabetes.
We offer chocolates, cakes and ice creams too often to our children. We also attend parties or dine out every day. This way we invite obesity and diabetes.
Answer the following questions briefly:
- (a) What are the functions of food?
(b) What is meant by ‘improper food?
(c) What does ‘civilised life’ imply?
(d) Explain: We have drifted away from nature.
(e) How does modem life style and food habits affect us? - Find words from the passage that mean the same as:
(a) being fat (b) cleanliness
Answers
- Food maintains and saves life.
(b) Food which is of poor quality and has harmful effect on the body.
(c) Being civilised means – to know what is right and what is wrong.
(d) Our lifestyle has pushed us away from nature.
(e) We don’t follow the rules of hygiene and healthy diet. We eat processed, fried or junk food. - obesity (b) hygiene
PASSAGE 5
The cinema is the cheapest source of entertainment today. Millions of people see movies and enjoy them. It is a good pastime in all the places – big or small.
The cinema industry has made rapid progress after independence. In the beginning there were silent, and black and white movies. Now we are dazzled by the colours in every movie.
Big posters are seen on the walls of cities and towns for advertisements. They also announce the coming movies in the city. There is always a rush before the booking windows. So the tickets are often sold in the black market or at a premium.
On the one hand the cinema is a source of entertainment. On the other it is also a source of knowledge and information. Films satisfy all the sections of people and their different tastes.
There are religious movies and historical movies. They recreate the past, the old culture and life style. Social films spread awareness about social evils of dowry, casteism and communal feelings. Some films expose the corruption in high places among the policemen and the citizens.
Questions
- Answer the following questions briefly:
(a) Why is cinema so much popular?
(b) How can you say that the cinema industry has made rapid progress after independence?
(c) Why are tickets often sold in the black market?
(d) Mention two advantages of cinema.
(e) What is the main purpose of making social films? - Find words from the above passage which mean the opposite to:
(a) costliest (b) slow (c) present
Answers
- (a) Cinema is so much popular because it is the cheapest means of recreation.
(b) Earlier there were silent, and black and white movies. Now we are dazzled by the colours in the movies. Now we are dazzled by the column in the movies. One can see big posters on the wall of cities and towns.
(c) Tickets are often sold in the black market because there is always a huge rush before the booking windows.
(d) Cinema is a source of entertainment.
It is also a source of knowledge and information.
(e) The main purpose of making social films is to spread awareness about social evils of dowry, casteism and communal feelings. - (a) cheapest (b) rapid (c) past
PASSAGE 6
There was a time when all house-work was done by the women or girls of the house¬hold. Few husbands ever dreamt of washing up, preparing breakfast or tending the baby. Such duties were no concern of theirs. And normal school boy assumed that if help were needed in the home, his sisters would be called on to give it. The whole family supported the view that the male child could not or should not clean, mend, wash, cook or make beds.
Things are very different today. Doctors or barristers find nothing shameful in putting on an apron to help in the kitchen or nursery and even boast of being good at washing of clothes and personal linen.
The school boy is more often now than formerly expected to help his mother. One reason for the change is the Shortage of domestic servants. Girls could once be found to do the hard work in middle and upper class homes for very moderate wages; Such girls nowa¬days work in factories. They earn more money than most householders can afford to pay. Thus the wife now does the househeld work herself with the aid of labour saving ma¬chines; and she expects some help from her husband.
- Answer the following questions briefly:
(a) Who usually did all house work in the past?
(b) Mention some household chores that women use to do in their house.
(c) How did the whole family view the male child?
(d) How are things different now?
(e) Mention one reason that has brought this change today? - Find words from the above passage that mean the same as:
(a) taking care of [b) took for granted (c) talk proudly
Answers
- (a) In the past all house work was usually done by women or girls.
(b) Washing clothes, preparing breakfast and tending the baby.
(c) The whole family thought that the male child could not or should not clean, mind, wash, cook or make beds.
(d) Today even doctors and lawyers help in the kitchen or nursery.
(e) The shortage of domestic servants has brought this change. - (a) tending (b) assumed (c) boast