PASSAGE - I (Question number 41-45)

"Nobody knows my name" is the title of one of James Baldwin's celebrated books. Who knows the name of the old man sitting amidst ruins pondering over his hubble-bubble? We do not. It does not matter. He is there like the North Pole, the Everest and the Alps but with one difference. The North Pole, the Everest and Alps will be there when he is not there any more. Can we really say this? "Dust thou act to dust returneth" was not spoken of the soul. We do not know whether the old man's soul will go marching on like John Brown's. While his body lies mouldering in the grave or becomes ash driven by the wind or is immersed in water, such speculation is hazardous. A soul's trip can take one to the treacherous shoals of metaphysics where there is no "yes" or "no". "Who am I?" asked Tagore of the rising sun in the first dawn of his life, he received no answer. "Who am I?" he asked the setting sun in the last twilight of his life. He received no answer.

We are no more on solid ground with dust which we can feel in our hands, scatter to the wind and wet with water to turn it into mud. For this much is sure, that in the end, when life's ceaseless labour grinds to a halt and man meets death, the brother of sleep, his body buried or burnt, becomes dust. In the form of dust he lives, inanimate yet in contact with the animate. He settles on files in endless government almirahs, on manuscripts written and not published on all shelves, on faces and hands. He becomes ubiquitous all pervasive, sometimes sneaking even into hermetically sealed chambers.

41. What is the difference between the old man and the North Pole, the Everest and the Alps?

1. he ponders over his hubble-bubble while they don't
2. they are known to all while he known to none
3. they remain while he will soon become dust
4. they are not as old as he

42. What, according to the passage, happens to a person's soul after death?

1. the sould also dies with the body
2. the soul continues to live after the body is dead
3. the soul certainly becomes dust after death
4. it is dangerous to guess

43. Which of the following statement is true?

1. The rising sun told Tagore who he was
2. The rising sun did not tell Tagore who he was
3. The rising sun advised Tagore to ask no questions
4. The rising sun told Tagore that he would become dust

44. What happens to man after he becomes dust?

1. he disappears from the world for ever
2. he appears in the form of man again
3. he becomes all pervasive as dust
4. he often sneaks into hermetically sealed chambers

45. What figure of speech is used in the expressison 'the brother of sleep'?

1. Simile
2. Metaphor
3. Oxymoron
4. Irony

PASSAGE - II (Question number 46-50)

To write well you have to be able to write clearly and logically, and you cannot do this unless you can think clearly and logically. If you cannot do this yet you should train yourself to do it by taking particular problems and following them through, point by point, to a solution, without avoiding any difficulties that you meet.

At first you find clear, step-by-step thought very difficult. You may find that your mind is not able to concentrate. Several unconnected ideas may occur together. But practice will improve your ability to concentrate on a single idea and think about it clearly and logically. In order to increase your vocabulary and to improve your style, you should read widely and use a good dictionary to help you find the exact meanings and correct usages of words.

Always remember that regular and frequent practice is necessary if you want to learn to write well. It is no good waiting until you have an inspiration before you write. Even with the most famous writers, inspiration is rare. Someone said that writing is ninety-nine per cent hard work and one per cent inspiration, so the sooner you get into the habit of disciplining yourself to write, the better.

46. To write well, a person must train himself in

1. dealing with a difficult problem
2. not leaving anything out
3. thinking clearly and logically
4. following a step-by-step approach

47. Initially it is difficult to write because

1. a good dictionary is not used
2. ideas occur without any sequence
3. aids to correct writing are not known
4. exact usages of wrods are not known

48. According to the passage, writing style can be improved by

1. thinking logically
2. writing clearly
3. undergoing training
4. reading widely

49. Famous writers have achieved success by

1. using their linguistic resources properly
2. disclipining their skill
3. following only one idea
4. waiting for inspiration

50. All the following words mean 'exact' except

1. precise
2. accurate
3. very
4. erect