Reading-Factual Passage - CBSE Test Papers

CBSE Test Paper 01
Factual Passage

  1. Read the passage given below and answer the questions / complete the sentences that follow:
    In India, as perhaps in many other countries of the world, trees have been held in veneration since ancient times. Our rishis of yore retired to forests to meditate and to do penance amidst trees and "far from the madding crowd" Our forbears loved trees and forests so much so that, they even deified and worshipped them as abodes of Vrikshadevata and Vanadevata. Many of them were not cut without good reason. In ancient India, groves of trees and flower gardens were reared with loving care.
    In ancient Sanskrit literature, there are many references of young maidens kicking the Ashoka tree to make it flower. But in fact, the kick can be administered by anyone. The method seems to work, though nobody really knows why? Some say the kick interrupts the flow of water upwards, triggering a defence mechanism which causes the tree to flower.
    In Western countries, people beat their walnut trees to encourage them to bear fruit. It is believed that a good beating ensures a good crop of walnuts. Like the Ashoka, the Walnut too is a tall tree. Perhaps all tall trees benefit occasionally from a beating sound.
    In parts of Uttar Pradesh, they resort to another stratagem to get mango trees to flower. If a tree has not given fruit in a particular year, the owner, accompanied by three or four friends, walks menacingly towards it with an axe and loudly announces his intention of cutting down the tree. His friends persuade him not to do so. When he has gone they berate the tree for not giving fruit and advise it to give plenty of fruit the next time if it wants to live The method is said to give good results.
    Answer the following questions briefly :
    1. Our rishis retired to forests to ______ and to do penance.
    2. Who are referred to Vrikshadevata and Vanadevata in the passage?
    3. In western countries, walnut trees are beaten to encourage them to bear fruits (True/False)
    4. In ancient times young maidens used to kick the Ashoka tree when it ______.
    5. In Uttar Pradesh mango trees are caused to flower by _______.
    6. The Ashoka is a ______.
      (a) tall tree  (b) short tree (c) type of grass (d) type of herb
    7. The word 'menacingly' means _______.
      (a) destroying (b) helpfully (c) joyfully (d) threateningly
  2. Read the passage given below and the questions that follow:
    An e-card is similar to a postcard or greeting card, with the primary difference being that it is created by using digital media instead of paper or other traditional materials. E-cards are made available by publishers, usually on various internet sites, where they can be sent to a recipient usually via e-mail or social media apps. It is also considered more environment-friendly as compared to traditional paper cards. E-card businesses are considered environment-friendly because their carbon footprint is generally much lower as compared to paper card companies and because the paper is not used in the end product.
    E-cards are digital content, which makes them much more versatile than traditional greeting cards. For example, unlike traditional greeting cards, e-cards can be easily sent to many people at once or extensively personalized by the sender. Conceivably they could be saved to any computer or electronic device or even viewed on a television set, and digital video e-cards have begun emerging.
    Typically an e-card sender chooses from an online catalogue of e-card made available on a publisher's website. After selecting a card, the sender can personalize it to various degrees by adding a message, photo or video. Finally, the sender specifies the recipients' e-mail address and the website delivers an e-mail message to the recipient on behalf of the sender.
    This concept of e-cards is innovative and delivers an intrinsic pleasure to both the sender and the receiver.
     
    Answer the following questions briefly:
    1. An e-card is similar to a _______ or greeting card in digital format.
    2. How are the e-cards different from the regular cards?
    3. Where are the e-cards available?
      (a) books stores
      (b) internet sites
      (c) Gift shops
      (d) Schools
    4. E-cards are delivered via ___________
      (a) email and social media apps
      (b) Postman
      (c) Courier
      (d) email and books stores
    5. Select a word from the passage that means, 'to come out of a hidden place'.
    6.  E-cards are eco-friendly as _________.
    7. E-cards are digital ______.(content/books)
CBSE Test Paper 01
Factual Passage

Solution
    1. meditate
    2. The trees
    3. True
    4. didn't flower.
    5. advising it to give plenty of fruits the next time if it wants to live
    6. tall tree
    7. threateningly
    1. postcard
    2. E-cards are digital images.
    3. internet sites
    4. email and social media apps
    5. E-cards are a convenient, quicker as well as a cost-effect method of conveying greetings. They help to save time as well as resources.
    6. to emerge
    7. no paper is used.
    8. content