Unseen Passage for Class 10 English with Answers Pdf

Comprehension means understanding or perception. The following points for Unseen Passage for Class 10 English are to be carefully noted while attempting questions on comprehension.

• Go through the Unseen Passage for Class 10 English carefully and arrive at the general idea of the subject the passage presents.
• Read a second time to get a better understanding of the passage.
• Arrive at the meaning of difficult words by relating them to the preceding and following sentences.
• Underline relevant words and phrases of the passages which can help you deduce the answers.
• Read the questions carefully.
• Answer precisely using simple language.
• Answers should reveal your understanding of the passage.
• If you are asked to provide a suitable title or heading to the passage remember the title is hidden either in the beginning or ending of the passage.
• Title should relate to the main idea of the passage and should be brief.

Refer to Unseen Passage for Class 10 English below with solved multiple choice questions. These Unseen Passages and comprehensions have been designed based on the latest Class 10 English examination guidelines. We have also provided Worksheets for Class 10 English which will help you to practice more such passages.

Unseen Passage for Class 10

1. Read the Unseen Passage for Class 10 English given below and answer any ten questions: 

1. The National Basketball Championship Women’s finals had all the ingredients of the Chak De climax. Till half-time, the Railways team, playing against the Chhattisgarh girls’ team, led on the scoreboard. And then, the unexpected happened. The Chhattisgarh girls tore into the Railway’s defences and every time they took a shot, the ball made it through the hoop. The scoreboard kept moving and at the final whistle, it stood in Chhattisgarh’s favour.

2. But more important than the victory, it is the stories of some of these players that make it a fantastic match. Most of the players come from poor families and have dealt with severe setbacks. Take the story of India’s tallest woman hoopster, Poonam Chaturvedi. A severe headache that had been bothering her for a long time, was diagnosed with brain tumour six months ago. She had lost her will to live but had joined the team to please her father, a constable in Uttar Pradesh. Within a few minutes into game the headache had returned and she was benched. But when Captain Seema Singh fouled out, she was forced to return. She went on to put up a brilliant performance, despite the pain and anxiety.

3. Behind this stupendous success is Coach Rajesh Patel, who has been running the Chhattisgarh Basketball Development Academy for 13 years. With financial backing from the steel plants in his area, he has been mentoring deserving boys and girls from tribal belts and training them for the game. A promise of employment and promotion if they excel in the game, keeps girls going, says Patel.

4. So far, Patel has trained 1500 youngsters. Of the lot, the really disadvantageous children are taken into a hostel run by him and his wife Anita, till they are independent. Many of Patel’s protégés have gone on to perform at national and international events and the Chhattisgarh girls he has trained, claim a unique record of bringing home 74 medals in their 80 national-level appearances.

5. Yet none of these players have had an easy life. Seema Singh of the current team is its most experienced player. She had represented Chhattisgarh for the first time in 2002. When she was dropped from the Railways team earlier, due to a knee injury, she picked herself up and resumed playing for Chhattisgarh and won the national trophy for her coach, as she puts it.

6. Another team member, L Deepa, triumphed over a physical drawback. She is short and found this a great disadvantage in a sport like basketball where height matters. But when Patel gave her a chance to come up to his expectations, Deepa more than measured up.

7. Others, like Bharati Nigam, came into the team as she could not make to the Railways team this year. This daughter of a police constable, she took this snub as a challenge and went on to become a professional player. Her sports teacher, she feels, motivated her to take up the sport as a career.

8. All these women together have thus scripted an unusual tale of great valour, indomitable courage and implicit trust in their coach to secure for India a great honour. For their team the win, over the giants, the Railways team, this victory has spelt a personal rewind of the typical underdog-who-triumphs movie of how they dunked the odds.

Question. Where did Poonam Chaturvedi belong to?
(a) Madhya Pradesh
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Bihar
(d) Rajasthan

Question. The Chhattisgarh Basketball Academy has been running for …
(a) one year
(b) the benefit of the steel plant
(c) 13 years
(d) the national and international championships

Question. The Coach of Chhattisgarh basketball team is …
(a) Jiva Patel
(b) Rajesh Patel
(c) Anita Patel
(d) Poonam Chaturvedi

Question. What has been bothering Poonam Chaturvedi for a long time?
(a) Ulcer
(b) Backache
(c) Fever
(d) Headache

Question. What was the drawback with L Deepa?
(a) She was fat.
(b) She was weak.
(c) She was short.
(d) She was mentally unfit.

Question. Who is the most experienced player of the Chhattisgarh team?
(a) Poonam Chaturvedi
(b) Seema Singh
(c) L Deepa
(d) Bharati Nigam

Question. Why was Seema Singh dropped from Railway team?
(a) Due to marriage
(b) Father’s death
(c) Knee injury
(d) None of these

Question. Poonam Chaturvedi is…..
(a) India’s tallest woman hoopster
(b) the captain of the Chhattisgarh team
(c) a player from the Railways team
(d) a girl living in the hostel

Question. What have these women scripted ?
(a) A tale of valour
(b) A saga of defeat
(c) A parody
(d) A story of remorse

Question. The match between the Railways and Chhattisgarh was won by…..
(a) the Chak De India team
(b) the Chhattisgarh girls’ team
(c) the Railways’ team
(d) no one as it was a draw

Question. Find out the word from the passage which mean “Basketball player”
(a) Stupendous
(b) Hoopster
(c) Valour
(d) Underdog

Class 10 English Unseen Passage

Read the following Unseen Passage for Class 10 English carefully. 

FAST FOOD VS GOOD HEALTH

(1) Children are bombarded with well-crafted TV ads of fast-food chains and other purveyors of high-fat, high-sugar meals and snacks. A recent study reported that two to six-year-olds, who watch television, are more likely to choose food products advertised on TV than children who do not watch such commercials. These highly-effective advertising campaigns, combined with a physically inactive lifestyle, have produced a generation of kids who are at a high risk for obesity-associated medical conditions.

(2) The major health threat is the early development of Type 2 diabetes (adult onset), particularly in children with a family history of the disease. Doctors are reporting a surge in young adolescents developing Type 2 diabetes, which can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, stroke, limb amputation, and blindness. People who develop diabetes in adolescence face a diminished quality of life and shortened life span, particularly if the disease progresses untreated. It’s a scary prospect for our children, but in many cases, obesity and diabetes are preventable.

(3) When children are spending most of their free time sitting in front of televisions and computers, they are not running, jumping or engaging themselves in any sport which would keep their weight down. Parents need to set limits on the time their children are engaged in passive activities. Paediatricians recommend restricting children to one to two hours per day of TV and computer usage, though older children may need additional time for learning activities.

(4) Parental involvement remains the most important key to the children’s healthy diets. Programs to educate parents about nutrition are essential. Fast foods should be consumed only in moderation. Care-givers, who are often busy and harried, must avoid the temptation to whisk their kids into fast food restaurants or to pick up fast food for dinner. Changing eating habits and lifestyles is not easy, but the health benefit for the children is a wonderful payoff for the parents who are willing to take on the task.

Question. According to the passage, what is not easy?
(a) Educating parents about nutrition
(b) Restricting children from watching television
(c) Engaging children in passive activities
(d) Changing eating habits and lifestyles

Question. What is recommended for children by paediatricians?
(a) Restrict children to one to two hours per day of TV and computer usage
(b) Moderate the consumption of fast food
(c) Involve children in healthy eating habits
(d) All of these

Question. What have produced a generation of kids who are at a high risk for obesityassociated medical conditions?
(a) Highly-effective advertising campaigns
(b) Physically inactive lifestyle
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Neither (a) nor (b)

Question. What are children bombarded with on TV?
(a) Animated movies
(b) Well-crafted ads of fast foods
(c) Music shows
(d) Comedy programmes

Question. How can parents set limits on the time their children are engaged in passive activities?
(a) By restricting the TV and computer usage of their children to one to two hours a day.
(b) By making the children join a sports club.
(c) By restricting their sports activities.
(d) By making them study for longer hours.

Unseen Passage for Class 10 with Answers

Read the passage given below : 

(1) Necessity is indeed the mother of invention. When areas in and around Leh began to experience water shortages, life didn’t grind to a halt. Why? Because Chewang Norphel, a retired civil engineer in the Jammu and Kashmir government came up with the idea of artificial glaciers.

(2) Ladakh, a cold desert at an altitude of 3,000-3,500 metres above sea level, has a low average annual rainfall rate of 50 mm. Glaciers have always been the only source of water. Agriculture is completely dependent on glacier melt unlike the rest of river/monsoon fed India. But over the years with increasing effects of climate change, rainfall and snowfall patterns have been changing, resulting in severe shortage and drought situations. Given the severe winter conditions, the window for farming is usually limited to one harvest season.

(3) It is located between the natural glacier above and the village below. The one closer to the village and lowest in altitude melts first, providing water during April/May, the crucial sowing season. Further layers of ice above melt with increasing temperature thus ensuring continuous supply to the fields. Thus, farmers have been able to manage two crops instead of one. It costs about ` 1,50,000 and above to create one.

(4) Fondly called the “glacier man”, Mr. Norphel has designed over 15 artificial glaciers in and around Leh since 1987. In recognition of his pioneering effort, he was conferred the Padma Shri by President Pranab Mukherjee, in 2015.

(5) There are a few basic steps followed in creating the artificial glacier.

(6) River or stream water at higher altitude is diverted to a shaded area of the hill, facing north, where the winter sun is blocked by a ridge or a mountain range. At the start of winter/November, the diverted water is made to flow onto sloping hill face through distribution channels. Stone embankments are built at regular intervals which impede the flow of water, making shallow pools and freeze, forming a cascade of ice along the slope. Ice formation continues for 3-4 months resulting in a large accumulation of ice which is referred to as an “artificial glacier”.

Question. For how many months does the ice formation continue for?
Answer. The ice formation continues for 3-4 months.

Question. Find the word in the paragraph 6 which means the same as ‘gathering’?
Answer. Accumulation

Question. Mr. Norphel designed ___________ artificial glaciers in Leh.
Answer. 15

Question. Which Indian President gave Padma Shri award to Mr. Norphel?
Answer. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee is the Indian President who gave Padma Shri award to Mr. Norphel.

Question. In which year Mr. Norphel get Padma Shri award?
(a) 2007
(b) 2015
(c) 2009
(d) 2005

Question. Ladakh is at an altitude of ___________ metres above sea level.
(a) 2000-2500
(b) 1500-2000
(c) 3000-3500
(d) 2500-3000

Question. What kind of landform is Ladakh?
(a) Hot desert
(b) Cold desert
(c) Dry desert
(d) Hot and Dry desert

Question. Who was Chewang Norphel?
(a) a retired principal
(b) a retired activist
(c) a retired social worker
(d) a retired civil engineer

Comprehensions for Class 10 English with Solutions

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow : 
If you are addicted to coffee and doctors warn you to quit the habit, don’t worry and just keep relishing the beverage, because it is not that bad after all! In fact, according to a new study, the steaming cup of Java can beat fruits and vegetables as the primary source of antioxidants. Some studies state that coffee is the number one source of antioxidants in the American diet, and both caffeinated and decaf versions appear to provide similar antioxidant levels. Antioxidants, in general, have been linked to a number of potential health benefits, including protection against heart diseases and cancer, but Vinson, a dietician said that their benefits ultimately depend on how they are absorbed and utilized in the body. The research says that coffee outranks popular antioxidant sources like tea, milk, chocolate and cranberries. Of all the foods and beverages studied, dates actually have the most antioxidants based solely on the serving size, but since dates are not consumed anywhere near the level of coffee, the drink comes as the top source of antioxidants, Vinson said. Besides keeping you alert and awake, coffee has been linked to an increasing number of potential health benefits, including protection against liver and colon cancer, type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s disease, according to some recently published studies. The researchers, however, advise that one should consume coffee in moderation, because it can make you jittery and cause stomach pains.

Question. What are the two versions of coffee that is drunk in America?
Answer. Caffeinated and decaf versions are the two versions of coffee consumed in America.

Question. Benefit of __________ is that it protects us against heart disease and cancer.
Answer. antioxidants

Question. Name any two popular sources of antioxidants.
Answer. Dates, Coffee, Tea, Milk, Chocolate, Cranberries .

Question. What is the synonym of ‘chief’ as given in para 1?
Answer. Primary

Question. Which beverage helps in preventing against liver and colon cancer?     
(a) Tea
(b) Milk
(c) Coffee
(d) Hot chocolate

Question. It is a type of diabetes     
(a) Type 5
(b) Type 4
(c) Type 3
(d) Type 2

Question. Who is Vinson in the paragraph?   
(a) A Doctor
(b) A Health consultant
(c) A Nutritionist
(d) A Dietician

Question. Of all the foods and beverages studied, __ _______ actually have most antioxidants.     
(a) dates
(b) tea
(c) cranberries
(d) coffee

Solved Unseen Passage for Class 10 English

Read the following passage carefully and answer the following questions :
Subhash Chandra Bose passed through quarters inhabited by Englishmen and also met a large number of them in the tram cars. The British using these cars were purposely rude and offensive to Indians in various ways. The sensitive mind of Subhash revolted against such insulting and rude behavior of the British. On many occasions, there was an exchange of hot words between him and misbehaving British. Majority of the students of the Presidency College, where he studied, were free thinkers. The college continued to be a storm centre and was looked upon by the British Government “as a hotbed of sedition, rendezvous of revolutionaries” and was frequently searched by the police. The first two years of his life were greatly influenced by the group, which styled itself as the neo-Vivekananda group and Subhash developed intellectually during this period. The group generally followed the teachings of Rama Krishna and Vivekananda with special emphasis on social service as means of spiritual development and was non-aligned to a revolutionary group. The shock of the Great World War roused his political consciousness. He graduated at the age of 22 and enrolled himself for the postgraduate with experimental psychology as a special subject. His father, however, wanted him to go to England to appear for the Indian Civil Services. In spite of his mental reservations, Subhash took it as a challenge. In England, he was greatly impressed with the freedom allowed to students at Cambridge. Every student behaved in a dignified manner. Not withstanding his preoccupation with his studies, he displayed his public spirit and fearlessness throughout his stay in England. He and K. L. Gouba were selected by the Indian Majlis, to represent the British Government the difficulties the Indian students encountered for admission to the University Officers’ Training Corps. Though he took a harsh view of the British high handedness and racial arrogance, he did admire their qualities which exacted him. He himself behaved there in a dignified way and was of the view that Indian who go abroad, must consider themselves to be unofficial ambassadors of the country, who should uphold their country’s prestige. He was quite serious in purpose and disliked anybody wasting time on trivialities.

Question. Who were selected by the Indian Majlis?
Answer. K.L. Gouba and Subhash Chandra Bose were selected by the Indian Majlis.

Question. Majority of the students of the Presidency college were ___________ .
Answer. free thinkers

Question. Whose teachings did the group generally followed?
Answer. The group generally followed the teachings of Rama Krishna and Vivekananda.

Question. Subhash Chandra’s father wanted him to go to England and appear for what?
Answer. Subhash Chandra’s father wanted him to go to England and appear for Indian Civil Services.

Question. Indians who go abroad, must consider themselves to be unofficial ___________ of the country.
(a) Ambassadors
(b) Chancellors
(c) Ministers
(d) Governors

Question. Subhash met lot of rude Englishmen while travelling in
(a) Buses
(b) Taxi
(c) Trains
(d) Tram cars

Question. At what age Subhash enrolled for his postgraduation?
(a) 20 years
(b) 22 years
(c) 25 years
(d) 21 years

Question. Where is Cambridge University?
(a) Germany
(b) United States of America
(c) France
(d) England

Unseen Passages for Class 10 English

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :
Tell someone that you are going to a convention of accountants and you might get a few yawns, yet money and how it works is probably one of the most interesting things on the earth. It is fascinating and almost magical, how money appeared on our planet. Unlike most developments we enjoy, which can be traced back to a source, civilisation or inventor, money appeared in places then unconnected all over the world in a remarkably similar way. Consider the American Indians using Wampum, West Africans trading in decorative metallic objects called Manillas and the Fijians economy based on whale’s teeth, some of which are still legal tender; add to that shells, amber, ivory, decorative feathers, cattle including oxen and pigs, a large number of stones including jade and quartz, which have all been used for trade across the world, and we get a taste of the variety of accepted currency. There is something charming and child- like imagining primitive societies, our ancestors, using all these colourful forms of money. As long as everyone concerned can agree on a value, this is a sensible thing for a community to do. After all, the person who has what you need might not need what you have to trade. Money solves that problem neatly. Real value with each exchange, and everyone gaining from the convenience. The idea is really inspired, which might explain why so many diverse minds came up with it. Once money is accepted as a form of exchange, those who produce, loan out and manipulate the quantity of money are obviously in a very strong position. They are the “Money Changers”. “History records that the money changers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments by controlling money and its issuance,” said President James Madison. Money, money, money, it’s always just been there, right? Wrong. Obviously it’s issued by the government to make it easy for us to exchange things. Wrong again! Truth is, most people don’t realise that the issuing of money is essentially a private business, and that the privilege of issuing money has been a major bone of contention throughout history.

Question. What problem does the money solve ?
Answer. When a person who has what you need does not need what you trade,money solves the problem nicely.

Question. What do you understand by ‘Money Changers’?
Answer. People who produce, loan out and manipulate the quantity of money are called ‘Money Changers’.

Question. What is fascinating and almost magical ?
Answer. How money appeared on the Earth is fascinating and magical.

Question. Which currencies did the American Indians and West Africans use ?
Answer. American Indians used Wampum and west Africans used metallic objects called Manillas.

Question. What is something charming and childlike to imagine ?
Answer. Primitive societies using colorful forms of money is something charming and child-like to imagine.

Question. What is meant by the word, ‘convention’ ?
(a) comfort
(b) escape
(c) clown
(d) transport

Question. What is meant by the word, ‘intrigue’ ?
(a) plot
(b) interest
(c) interval
(d) fear

Question. Most people don’t realise that the issue of money is __________ business.
(a) personal
(b) private
(c) social
(d) none’s

Question. What is meant by the word, ‘convention’ ?
(a) conference
(b) fair
(c) wave
(d) competition

Question. What is meant by the word, ‘fascinating’ ?
(a) beautiful
(b) valuable
(c) attractive
(d) republic

Solved Unseen Passages for English Class 10

Read the following passage carefully.

WHERE HAVE ALL THE SPARROWS GONE?

(1) They were once everywhere. Chirping and flapping their wings at the window sills, on top of cupboards, and on the branches of trees. Where have all the little sparrows gone?
This is the most frequently asked question about sparrows these days.
(2) The association between humans and house sparrows dates back to several centuries and no other bird has been associated with humans on a daily basis like the house sparrow.
It is a bird that evokes fond memories of childhood. The nests of sparrows dotted almost every house in the neighbourhood as well as public places like bus stands and railway stations, where they lived in colonies and survived on food grains and tiny worms.
(3) A study conducted by the Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam, highlighted the fact that the population of sparrows had fallen by over 60 per cent even in the rural areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh. A survey conducted by the British Trust for Ornithology showed that the house sparrow’s population in Britain has declined by about 510 per cent since 1970.
(4) Certainly, there is no single reason for the decline of the house sparrows. Mobile tower radiation and excessive use of chemical fertilizers are aggravating the problem and have been identified as potent sparrow killers.
(5) It is said that sparrow chicks, which require insect food for their survival in their early days, have not been getting adequate supply from their parents. This has triggered large scale death of chicks, leading to a gradual decline in their population.
(6) Urban landscape too, has been dramatically altered over the years. No longer are sparrows able to find the tiny nooks, crannies, and holes where they used to build their nests.
(7) Typically, sparrows were never an issue of concern for us with their diminutive presence in our household. Perhaps, it is this diminutive presence because of which even their gradual disappearance has gone unnoticed. Mohammed Dilawar is rightly called the Sparrow Man of India as he has been successful in drawing the attention of the world towards the declining number of house sparrows.
(8) House sparrows are an important bioindicator and their decline is a grim reminder of the degradation of the urban environment and the danger from it to the humans in the long run.

On the basis of your reading of the given passage, choose the correct option. 

Question. What is the most frequently asked question about sparrows these days?
(a) Where have all the sparrows gone?
(b) What do sparrows eat?
(c) Where do sparrows live?
(d) Why are sparrows everywhere?

Question. A survey conducted by the British Trust for Ornithology showed that:
(a) house sparrows evoke fond memories of childhood
(b) there is no single reason for the decline of the house sparrows
(c) chemical fertilizers are aggravating the problem and have been identified as potent sparrow killers
(d) house sparrows’ population in Britain has declined by about 59 per cent since 1970

Question. What has triggered leading to a gradual decline in their population?
(a) Chicks not getting adequate supply from their parents
(b) Mobile tower radiation
(c) Degradation of the urban environment
(d) None of these

Question. Which of the following definition explains the term ‘bioindicator’?
(a) The species which have beaks and wings, and are sensitive to pollution.
(b) The species which reveal the health of the natural ecosystem.
(c) The species which reveal the presence of toxic pollutants in the environment.
(d) The species which are on the verge of extinction.

Question. ‘Their degradation is a grim reminder of the degradation of the urban environment’. Substitute the underlined word with the most appropriate option from the following.
(a) Gloomy
(b) Mild
(c) Fruitful
(d) Ultimate

Unseen Passage Class 10 English Pdf

Read the following passage carefully.

HIGH-ALTITUDE CLIMBING

(1) High-altitude climbing is still a very dangerous task inspite of the availability of oxygen masks and other protective equipment, which modern climbers take along with them.
These, of course, are indispensable accessories of climbing, but more important than these is the stamina of the climber, which ultimately determines the success of his attempt to climb. Throughout his journey, death is his constant companion, which he can keep at a distance only with his superb presence of mind. He has to tread every inch of the ground with utmost care, for a false step may not only strike him a fatal blow, but also bring disaster to the whole expedition. That is why, all expeditions invariably take with them Sherpas who are experienced climbers and who have a thorough knowledge of the nature of the terrain.
(2) The primary objective of a mountaineering expedition is to get to the top of a high mountain, which in the past has withstood all attempts to conquer it. But if an expedition does not reach its destination it should not be presumed that the expedition is a complete failure. Sometimes, operations are temporarily suspended because of bad weather, loss of some valuable equipment or sudden death of a member of the party. Every big expedition includes men who are interested in botany, biology, geology, and various other branches of science, and these men carry with them equipment for recording their observations related to the weather, the terrain, and the different forms of life in the higher altitudes. Other scientists, explorers, and expeditioners utilise the fruits of the earlier expeditioners’ observations. Thus, every unsuccessful expedition contributes to the success of later expeditions. The British expedition led by Colonel Hunt would have found the way to Everest much more difficult had not earlier expeditions armed them with useful knowledge about the death-dealing weather which they had to encounter in the vicinity of the summit.

On the basis of your reading of the given passage, choose the correct option. 

Question. The primary objective of a mountaineering expedition is to:
(a) get to the top of a high mountain
(b) contribute to the success of later expeditions
(c) get a thorough knowledge of the nature of the terrain
(d) feast the eyes on the distant landscape

Question. Which of the following factors determine the success of the climbers?
(a) The experience of locals
(b) Rich private organisations
(c) The experience of ordinary people
(d) Every earlier unsuccessful expedition

Question. If an expedition does not reach its destination, it should not be:
(a) suspended
(b) financed
(c) observed
(d) presumed as failure

Question. Why is the death rate of climbers more than that of Sherpas?
(a) Because Sherpas climb with all the necessary equipment for protection
(b) Because Sherpas have thorough knowledge of the nature of the terrain
(c) Because Sherpas have superb presence of mind
(d) All of these

Question. Why was it easy to find the way to Everest for the British expedition led by Colonel Hunt?
(a) Because the expedition was temporarily suspended due to bad weather
(b) Because they recorded their observations related to the different forms of life in the highest altitudes
(c) Because in the past they withstood all attempts to conquer the expeditions
(d) Because earlier expeditions armed them with useful knowledge about the deathdealing weather

Unseen Passage for Class 10

Read the following passage carefully. 

1. Great people are born to produce an influence on society. One such personality, who was so humble and lived his complete life with determination and purpose to achieve
certain aims was Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. He was a great social reformer, writer, educator and worked endlessly to transform the society. He strongly protested against polygamy and child marriage. He favoured widow remarriage and women’s education in India. The Widow Remarriage Act was passed in 1856 making the marriage of widows legal because of his efforts to solve these problems.

2. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar refined the way Bengali language was written and taught.His book ‘Borno Porichoy’ (Introduction to the Alphabet) is still used as the introductory text to teach Bengali alphabet. Thus, he brought about a revolution in the Bengali Education System. Vidyasagar is credited with the role of completely changing the old method of teaching which prevailed in Sanskrit College. As a professor in Sanskrit College, he brought modern outlook into the method of teaching. He included English
and Bengali as mediums of learning, besides Sanskrit. He, also, introduced courses in European History, Philosophy and Science alongside Vedic scriptures. He encouraged students to study these subjects and make the best of both the worlds.

3. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar was a strong advocate of women education. He rightly viewed education as the primary way for women to achieve emancipation from the society’s oppression they had to face at that time. He exercised his power to open schools for girls and even outlined suitable curriculum to educate them. He went from
door to door, requesting heads of families to allow their daughters to be enrolled in schools.

4. Ishwar Chandra was a man who defined his own path of action. He never listened to what others said about his work and made decisions based on his own judgement. He was famous for all these qualities. He was also known for his great courage. Vidyasagar had a very soft heart that sympathised with those in trouble. He was easily moved to
tears when he saw someone in pain and was always the first one to offer his help to colleagues and friends in distress. After his death, Rabindranath Tagore said, “One
wonders how God, in the process of producing forty million Bengalis, produced a man!”

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any eight out of the ten questions by choosing the correct option.

Question. According to Ishwar Chandra, which of these is the primary way for women to achieve emancipation from the oppression of society?
(a) Earning money
(b) Having physical strength
(c) Education
(d) Politeness

Question. What, according to you, is the central idea of the passage?
(a) A reformer can change the world.
(b) Be the change you want to see.
(c) Education is vital for the society.
(d) A determined person achieves his aims at all costs.

Question. What are the necessary traits a person should possess to achieve certain aims?
1. Confidence 2. Determination 3. Humbleness 4. Positivity
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 3 and 4

Question. Choose the option that correctly states two meanings of ‘advocate’.
1. To support something publicly
2. To impact something
3. A person who supports in favour of someone
4. A report which puts forward opinion
(a) 1 and 4
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 3
(d) 2 and 4

Question. Select the option that makes the correct use of “judgement”, as used in the passage, to fill in the blank space.
(a) She showed a lack of ……………. when she voted for the first time.
(b) Scientists have accurate ……………. on the world community for the changing climate.
(c) Article-32 provides a ……………. remedy for the enforcement of rights.
(d) Literacy is necessary for political ……………. in any country.

Question. Vidyasagar brought modern outlook into the method of:
(a) working
(b) teaching
(c) learning
(d) reading

Question. Vidyasagar always made decisions based on:
(a) others’ judgement
(b) his own judgement
(c) circumstances
(d) All of these

Question. Which of these was/were strongly protested against by Vidyasagar?
(a) Polygamy
(b) Child marriage
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Neither (a) nor (b)

Question. The passage ……………. the importance of education for women.
(a) admitted
(b) described
(c) offered
(d) stressed

Question. What is the message conveyed in the second last paragraph of the passage?
(a) Educate a girl child
(b) Education is for all
(c) Education is the sole weapon
(d) Transform society through education

Class 10 English Unseen Passage

Case-based Factual Passages

Read the following passage carefully. 

Inflation refers to the rise in prices of most goods and services of daily or common use, such as food, clothing, housing, recreation, transport, etc. Inflation measures the average price change in a basket of commodities and services over time. The opposite and rare fall in the price index of this basket of items is called ‘deflation.’ Inflation is indicative of the decrease in the purchasing power of a unit of a country’s currency. This is measured in percentage.The purchasing power of a currency unit decreases as the commodities and services get dearer. This impacts the cost of living in a country. When inflation is high, the cost of living gets higher as well, which ultimately causes deceleration in economic growth.
A certain level of inflation is required in the economy to ensure that expenditure is promoted and hoarding money through savings is demotivated.
Generally money loses its value over time, so people must invest money to ensure the economic growth of a country.
Inflation is measured by two main indices in India—WPI (Wholesale Price Index) and CPI (Consumer Price Index), which measure wholesale and retail level price changes, respectively. The CPI calculates the difference in the price of commodities and services such as food, medical care, education, electronics, etc. which Indian consumers buy for use. WPI calculates the goods or services sold by businesses to smaller businesses for selling further.Some main reasons for the increase in prices—high demand and local production or supply of multiple commodities create a demand-supply gap, which causes a hike in prices. Moreover, excess circulation of money causes inflation as money loses its purchasing power. Apart from this, the people having much money tend to spend more which causes increased demand and hike in prices.
Inflation exists when money supply exceeds available goods and service or inflation is attributed to budget deficit financing.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer any six out of the eight questions by choosing the correct option.

Question.In the line “…… inflation is required”, the word “inflation” refers to:
(a) rise in the prices of goods.
(b) rise in the prices of services.
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Neither (a) nor (b)

Question. As opposed to inflation, the fall in the price levels in a country is caused by:
(a) an increase in productivity.
(b) a decrease in overall demand.
(c) a decrease in the volume of credit in the economy.
(d) All of the above.

Question. The year 2018 shows an increase in inflation rate in India as compared to 2017.What happens when inflation gets higher?
(a) The income of people gets higher.
(b) The cost of things remains intact.
(c) The cost of things gets lower.
(d) The cost of things gets higher.

Question. Based on your understanding of the passage, choose the option that justifies the requirement of ‘a certain level of inflation’.
1. It ensures that income is promoted.
2. It ensures that expenditure is promoted.
3. It encourages hoarding.
4. It improves the relation with other countries.
5. It ensures that expenditure is promoted.
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 3 and 5
(c) 2 and 4
(d) 1 and 5

Question. Choose the option that lists statement that is NOT TRUE.
(a) Excess circulation of money in an economy is one of the primary causes of inflation.
(b) Deflation in an economy indicates deteriorating conditions.
(c) Inflation is measured in units.
(d) Inflation exists when money supply exceeds available goods and services.

Question. In India, the indice which measures retail price change, is:
(a) Wholesale Price Index (WPI)
(b) the small businesses
(c) Consumer Price Index (CPI)
(d) None of these

Question. According to the graph, what was the inflation rate in 2015 in our country?
(a) 5.8%
(b) 4.5%
(c) 3.6%
(d) 4.9%

Question. What is/are the main factors(s) that cause a hike in prices?
(a) High demand and low production of supply
(b) Low demand and high production of supply
(c) High demand and high production of supply
(d) Low demand and low production of supply