SECTION - A
READING COMPREHENSION (SEEN)
1. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow :
When the family has finished tea, and gathers round the fire, the cat casually goes out of the room. True life now begins for him. He saunters down his own backyard, springs to the top of the fence, drops lightly down to the other side. He trots across and skips to the roof of an empty shed. His movement becomes lithe and pantherlike. He looks keenly from side to side and moves noiselessly, for he has so many enemies — dogs and small boys with stones.
On top of the shed, the cat arches his back and rakes his claws once or twice through the soft bark of the old roof. He stretches himself a few times to see if every muscle is in full working order. Then, drooping his head nearly to his paws, he sends across a call to his kindred. Before long they come, gliding, graceful shadows. No longer are they the meek creatures who an hour ago were mewing for fish and milk. They are now grim fighters.
Just think how much more he gets out of his life than you do out of yours ! And the sports they have, too ! As they get older they go in for sport to the suburban backyards. These backyards that are dull to us, are to them hunting grounds where they have more gallant adventure than King Arthur's knights ever had.
A. Write the correct alternative in the given space to complete the following sentences : 1 x 5 = 5
(a) When the family gathers round the fire, the cat goes out of the room __________.
(i) cautiously
(ii) smartly
(iii) casually
(iv) noiselessly
(b) Sauntering down his own backyard, the cat jumps to the top of the __________.
(i) fence
(ii) roof
(iii) other side
(iv) shed
(c) The cat looks keenly from side to side and moves __________.
(i) carefully
(ii) anxiously
(iii) fearfully
(iv) noiselessly
(d) On top of the shed the cat ___________.
(i) mews
(ii) arches his back
(iii) goes to sleep
(iv) fights
(e) As the cats get older they go in for sport to the __________.
(i) neighbouring house
(ii) old roof
(iii) empty shed
(iv) suburban backyard
B. Complete the following sentences with information from the text : 1 x 3 = 3
(i) The family gathers round the fire after _____________.
(ii) The cat skips to the roof of an empty shed where his movement becomes _____________.
(iii) The cat stretches himself a few times to feel if _____________.
C. State whether the following statements are true or false. Write 'T' for 'True' and 'F' for 'False' in the
boxes given on the right-hand side. Provide sentences/ phrases/ words in support of your answer: 2 x 2 = 4
(i) The cat sends across a call to his kindred by stretching himself a few times. □
Supporting sentence: ___________.
(ii) The cats behave as gallantly as King Arthur's knights. □
Supporting sentence: ___________.