CHAPTER

UNSEEN PASSAGES

Introduction

The word 'comprehension' means to fully understand the text using one's intellect. A comprehension passage is a text set for testing the reader's ability to comprehend (understand) the meaning being implied by the text and the theme of that particular passage. The students need to to fully understand the text by using their intellect.

Questions based on a passage generally appear as a chronological relationship with the passage. Usually the first question has the answer in the initial paragraphs and so on but if the answers are inferential then the matter might have to be collected from various paragraphs and for this, one needs to be familiar with the entire passage.

Types of Comprehension Passage:

1. Factual Passages: As the name suggests, factual passages give some facts, be it historical or about the achievements of a particular person. They can also provide instructions. They can be reports or even descriptions of something.

Discursive Passages: These kinds of passages involve an opinion. They have a logical flow and are argumentative in nature.

1. Literary Passages: These are the extracts from a literary piece.

TIPS TO KNOW

How to read a passage for comprehension:

Following are some guidelines that should be followed while attempting an unfamiliar passage:

1. Read silently. Do not read aloud.
2. Read the entire sentence together to make out the sense or meaning.
3. Read the passage thoroughly to determine the main idea before you have a good look at the questions.
4. Don't panic about the words you do not understand.
5. Go through the questions carefully and read that part again which contains the answer.
6. Initially if you are unable to understand the meaning of a word, try to make out the meaning of that particular word in context of the passage.
7. Answers must be relevant and to the point.
8. Write complete sentences for the answers.
9. Try to write the answers in your own words and if required they can be copied from the passage.
10. Maintain the order in which the questions appear in the test paper.
11. Read the passage thoroughly first and then the questions.
12. Give a second reading to the passage. This time keep marking the points you feel, can be the answers to the asked questions.
13. While answering the questions, be very specific and write simple and to the point sentences.

14. Write your answers in your own words as much as possible. Do not copy from the passage and write.

1. Do not give information which has not been included in the passage.

16. When asking the vocabulary questions, your answer should be in the same parts of speech as the question.

Spl. Note: This section contains passages from the previous years' question papers but the questions are reframed as per the latest CBSE pattern/design.

[ 3 READING SKILLS

Marking Scheme

One Passage of 12 marks

• Multiple Choice Questions

<math>1\times5=5</math> marks

Very Short Answer Questions

<math>1 \times 7 = 7</math> marks

>>>>>>>>

Previous Years' Questions

(12 marks each)

Passages

1. 1. Read the passage and on the basis of your understanding of the passage answer the questions given

below: (12)

(SQP 2018-19) (MQ)

1. India has never subscribed to the doctrine of militarism and war in her history. Here war was never treated as

an ideal. It was only tolerated as unavoidable and inevitable, and all attempts were made to check it and bring it under control. In spite of the frequency of wars in ancient India, in spite of highly developed military organization, techniques of war and imperialism and in spite of the open justification of war as national policy, the heart of India loved pacifisms as an ideal capable of realization. India's symbolic role was that of a peacemaker and it sincerely pinned its faith on the principle of "Live and let live". At least philosophically, India's intelligence supported the cause of peace not only in national affairs but in international affairs also. All the great seers of the york visualized the unity of life, permeating all beings, animate or inanimate, which ruled out killing and suicidal wars.

1. This doctrine of philosophical pacifisms practiced by ancient Aryans is, no doubt, a question of controversial

nature. Certainly, the great Indian teachers and savants stuck to this doctrine tenaciously and in their personal lives they translated it into practice and preached it to masses and even to princes of military classes.

1. Another culture of those times, the existence of which has been proved by the excavations of Mohen-jo-Daro,

also enunciated the doctrine of pacifism and friendship to all. Strangely enough, the Indus Valley civilization has revealed no fortification and very few weapons.

1. Ahimsa or the doctrine of non-violence in thought, speech and action assumed a gigantic importance in the

Buddhist and Jain period. By a constant practice of this virtue, man becomes unassailable by even wild beasts, who forgot their ferocity the moment they entered the circumference of his magnetic influence. The monks and nuns of these churches were apostles of peace, who reached every nook and corner of the world and delivered the message of love to the war-weary humanity. The greatest votary was the royal monk Ashoka, who in reality was responsible for transforming Ahimsa as an act of personal virtue, to Ahimsa as an act of national virtue.

1. Many historians recounting the causes of the downfall of the Mauryas, hold the pacific policy of Ashoka which

had eschewed the aggressive militarism of his predecessors, responsible for an early decay of the military strength of the state and its consequent disintegration, leading to the rise of Sungas, Kanvas and Andhras. But, in reality the fault lies in the weak successors of Ashoka, who could not wield the weapon of non-violence with a skill and efficiency, which required the strength of a spiritual giant like Ashoka. They failed due to their subjective weakness: Pacifism itself was no cause of their failure.

1. Besides the foregoing philosophical and religious school of thought, even many political authorities gave their

unflinching support to the cause of pacifisms. They recognized the right of rivals to exist, not mainly as enemies, but as collaborators in the building of a civilization operation. Thus, for centuries, in the pre-Mauryan India, scores of small independent republics existed and flourished without coming in clash with each other.

1. With regard to Kautilya, the much maligned militarist and the so called Machiavelli of India, He thinks that the object of diplomatic is to avoid war.

1. The Mahabharata observes in this connection: "A wise man should be content with what can be obtained by

the expedients of conciliation, gift and dissention." It denounces the warring world of men by comparing it to a dog- kennel. "First there comes the wagging of tails, then turning of one round to other, then the showing of teeth, then the roaring and finally comes the commencement of the fights. It is the same with men; there is no difference whatsoever." Yajnavalkya adds: „War is the last expedient to be used when all others have failed."Likewise, Sri Krishna whose Bhagwad-Gita has been styled by some as "a song of the battle", should not be considered out and out a militarist. When all the three expedients were exhausted, then alone the fourth was resorted to.

1. All possible avenues of peace such as negotiation, conciliation through conference, meditation and so on, were

explored by before resorting to war. This proves that the heart of ancient India was sound and it longed for peace, although war also was not treated as an anathema and was to be avoided as far as possible.

(Extract from 'Culture India-Pacifism has been the Ideal' by Sri Indra)