Reading Comprehension for Practice

 

                                                SECTION-A (READING)                                                        

Q.1. Read the passage and on the basis of your understanding of the passage answer the questions given below:                                (20)

1. “Who doesn't know how to cook rice? Cooking rice hardly takes time.” said my father. So, I challenged myself. I switched from news to YouTube and typed, “How to cook rice?” I took one and a half cups of rice. Since I didn't have access to a rice cooker, I put the rice in a big pot. Firstly, the rice has to be washed to get rid of dust and starch. I thought I won't be able to drain the rice and that it will fall out of the pot. I observed the chef as I swirled the rice around and used my dexterous hands to drain it, not once, not twice, but three times. I looked down at the sink and saw less than 50 grains that made their way out of the pot. Suffice to say, I was up to the mark.

2. The video stated that the key to perfect rice is equal amounts of rice and water. I have heard that professionals don't need to measure everything; they just know what the right amount is. But as this was my first time in the kitchen, I decided to experiment by not measuring the water needed for boiling the rice. I wanted the rice to be firm when bitten, just like pasta. I don’t enjoy the texture of mushy rice. It has to have that chutzpah; it has to resist my biting power just for a bit before disintegrating. 

3. After what seemed like 10 minutes, all the water disappeared. I went in to give it a good stir. To my surprise, some of the rice got stuck to the pot. I tried to scrape it off but to no avail. At the same time, there was a burning smell coming from it. I quickly turned the stove off. “What have you done to the kitchen?” shouted Mother, while coming towards the kitchen. I managed to ward her off.

4. Finally, when the time came to taste my creation, I was surprised! It wasn’t bad at all. The rice had the desired consistency. Sure, a little more salt would've been better, but I just added that while eating. The experience was fairly rewarding and memorable. It taught me a new sense of respect for those who cook food on a regular basis at home or engage in gourmet creations professionally.

 

On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer the questions: 1x6=6

 

i. Father’s question to the narrator, about knowing how to cook rice, was intended to

a. criticize the narrator’s lack of abilities. 

b. make the process sound simple.

c. encourage the narrator to take up cooking.

d. showcase his own expertise in cooking rice.

 

 ii. “I switched from news to YouTube …” Pick the option in which the meaning of ‘switch(ed)’ is NOT the same as it is in the passage.

 

a. He switched on the radio to listen to the news while having dinner.

b. “Forget these diet supplements and switch to yoga, if you want a true sense of well-being.”

c. Mom switched to reading fiction recently because she was bored with cook-books.

d. The company will switch the trucks to other routes to bring down city pollution.

 

iii. The narrator says that he has dexterous hands. He would have had a problem had it been the opposite. NOT BEING dexterous means, being

a. uncomfortable.

b. clumsy. 

c. unclear. 

d. clueless.

 

iv. How did mother react to the burning smell?

a.   She commented on it. 

b.   She brushed it aside.

c.   She enquired about it. 

d.   She handled it.

 

v. According to the passage, the fact that the narrator risked experimentation, on his maiden attempt in the kitchen, shows that he was

a.   conscientious.

b.    nervous. 

c.    presumptuous.

d.   courteous.

 

vi. The narrator’s creation was

a.    almost perfect to taste.

b.    way off from what he wanted.

c.    overly seasoned.

d.   quite distasteful.

 

Answer the following questions:       1x6=6

1.      How the author learned to cook rice?

2.      How much rice the author took?

3.      For how many times the author drained the rice?

4.      In how much time the rice was cooked?

5.      In what utensil the rice was cooked?

6.      Was the cooked rice perfect?

Q.2. Answer these questions:

(A)    On the basis of your reading of the above passage make notes on it, using heading and sub heading. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever necessary minimum four) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an appropriate title to it.                                 4                                                         

(B)   Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words .                                   4                                         

 Answers:

i. c. encourage the narrator to take up cooking.

ii. a. He switched on the radio to listen to the news while having dinner.

iii. b. clumsy. 

iv. c. She enquired about it. 

v. c. presumptuous.

vi. a. almost perfect to taste.

Answer the following questions:       1x6=6

1. The author learned to cook the rice from YouTube.

2. The author took one and a half cup of rice.

3. The author drained the rice for three times.

4. The rice was cooked in 10 minutes.

5. The rice was cooked in a big pot.

6. Yes, the cooked rice was almost perfect.