RC #1 1.
The Curies' ____ collaboration helped to unlock
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
the 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 secrets of the atom.
A. friendly B. competitive C. courteous
D. industrious E. chemistry
2. Marie had a bright mind and a __personality.
A. strong B. lighthearted C. humorous
D. strange E. envious
3. When she learned that she could not attend
the university in Warsaw, she felt___.
A. hopeless B. annoyed C. depressed
D. worried E. none of the above
4. Marie ___ by leaving Poland and traveling to
France to enter the Sorbonne.
A. challenged authority B. showed intelligence
C. behaved D. was distressed
E. answer not available in article
5. _____she remembered their joy together.
A. Dejectedly B. Worried C. Tearfully
D. Happily E. Sorrowfully
6. Her ____ began to fade when she returned to
the Sorbonne to succeed her husband.
A. misfortune B. anger C. wretchedness
D. disappointment E. ambition
7. Even though she became fatally ill from
working with radium, Marie Curie was never ____.
A. troubled B. worried C. disappointed
D. sorrowful E. disturbed
RC #2
At this stage of civilisation, when many nations
are brought in to close and vital contact for good
and evil, it is essential, as never before, that their
gross ignorance of one another should be
diminished, that they should begin to understand
a little of one another's historical experience and
resulting mentality. It is the fault of the English
to expect the people of other countries to react
as they do, to political and international
situations. Our genuine goodwill and good
intentions are often brought to nothing, because
we expect other people to be like us. This would
be corrected if we knew the history, not
necessarily in detail but in broad outlines, of the
social and political conditions which have given
to each nation its present character.
1. According to the author of 'Mentality' of a
nation is mainly product of its ...
not react to other actions
have a better understanding of other nations
have vital contacts with other nations

1. present character Answer And Explanation

2. international position Answer: Option C

3. politics RC #3

4. history “Uncle” said Luke to the old Sean “You seem to

be well fed, though I know no one looks after
Answer: Option D
you. Nor have I seen you leave your residence at
2. The character of a nation is the result of its... any time. Tell me how you manage it?”

gross ignorance “Because” Sean replied, “I have a good feed every

night at Emperor’s orchard. After dark, I go there
cultural heritage myself and pick out enough fruits to last a
fortnight.”
socio-political conditions
Luke proposed to accompany his uncle to the
mentality
orchard. Though reluctant because of Luke’s
Answer: Option C habit of euphoric exhibition of extreme
excitement, Sean agreed to take him along. At the
3. The need for a greater understanding between orchard while Sean hurriedly collected the fruits
nations.. and left, Luke on the other hand at the sight of
unlimited supply of fruits was excited and lifted
is more today than ever before his voice which brought Emperor’s men
was always there immediately to his side. They seized him and
mistook him as the sole cause of damage to the
is no longer there orchard. Although Luke reiterated that he was a
bird of passage, they pounded him mercilessly
will always be there before setting him free.
Answer: Option A Q. What does “bird of passage”; mean in the
context of the given passage?
4. Englishmen like others to react to political
situations like.. a. There was a bird in the orchard
others b. Other people stole from the orchard
us c. Emperor knew him personally
themselves d. He did not visit orchard regularly
each others e. Bird’s song alerted Emperor’s men
Answer: Option C ANSWER: He did not visit orchard regularly
5. According to the author his countrymen 2) Which of the following can be inferred from
should.. the passage?
read the story of other nations a. Luke did not take good care of his uncle
b. Emperor was a wicked man e. He wanted to leave Luke alone

c. Lack of self-control had put Luke into trouble Answer Explanation

d. Luke had a habit of speaking loudly ANSWER: To avoid getting caught by Emperor’s
men
e. Orchards are meant for the public

Answer Explanation

ANSWER: Lack of self-control had put Luke into RC #4

trouble
A man is known by the book he reads as well as
3) How often did Sean visit the orchard? by the company he keeps; for there is a
companionship of books as well as of men and
a. Daily
one should always live in the best company,
b. Weekly whether it be of books or of men.

c. Once in a month A good book may be among the best of friends. It

is the same today that it always was, and it will
d. Every day after midnight never change. It is the most patient and cheerful
of companions. It does not turn its back upon in
e. Never times of adversity or distress. It always receives
Answer Explanation us with the same kindness; amusing and
interesting us in youth, comforting and consoling
ANSWER: Every day after midnight us in age.

4) Choose the word which is most nearly the 1. Which of the following would be the most
same in meaning as the word “Reluctant” used in appropriate title for the given passage?
the passage.
a. Books show the reader’s character
a. Against
b. Books as man’s abiding friends
b. Resistant
c. Books are useful in the youth
c. Opposed
d. The importance of books in old age.
d. Disinclined
ANSWER: Books as man’s abiding friends
e. None of these
2. Which of the following is opposite in meaning
Answer Explanation to the word ‘adversity’ occurring in the passage?

ANSWER: Disinclined a. happiness

5) Why did Sean leave after collecting the b. prosperity

fruits?
c. progress
a. He feared that the bird’s song would awaken
the Emperor d. misfortune

b. To avoid getting caught by Emperor’s men ANSWER: prosperity

c. He saw the Emperor’s men approaching

d. He was afraid of the dark 3. The statement, ‘’ a good book may be among
best of friends,’’ in the passage means that
a. there cannot be a better friend than a good Answer Explanation
book

b. books may be good friends, but not better than ANSWER: His selection of books generally
good men reveals his temperament and character

c. a good book can be included among the best of

friends of mankind.

d. our best friends read the same good books.

e. None of these

ANSWER: a good book can be included among

the best of friends of mankind.

4. According to the passage, which of the

following statements is not true?

- Published on 14 Mar 17

a. Good books as well as good men always

provide the finest company.

b. A good book never betrays us

c. We have sometimes to be patient with a book

as it may bore us.

d. A good book serves as a permanent friend.

e. None of these

ANSWER: We have sometimes to be patient with

a book as it may bore us.

5. Read the following passage carefully and

answer the questions given below it. Certain
words/phrases have been printed in bold to help
you locate them while answering some of the
questions.

According to the passage, A man may usually be

known by the books he reads because

a. His reading habits shows that he is a scholar.

b. The books he reads affect his thinking

c. Books provide him a lot of knowledge

d. His selection of books generally reveals his
temperament and character