Unseen Passage For Class 9 With Answers

Unseen Passage for Class 9

Read the following passage carefully. 

CHILD MARRIAGE: AN EVIL

(1) Child marriages are rampant in North India. They continue to blight the lives of people. Children bound by marriage are victims of blind customs and superstitions prevalent in rural areas and certain urban concentrations among the weaker socio-economic groups. Nothing seems to stop this anti-social practice despite the Child Marriage Act passed as early as in 1929, which makes child marriage a grave offence.

(2) Why do child marriages take place and what can be done to prevent them from happening? The evil thrives because of illiteracy and other related causes—the most important of which is the anxiety of parents to marry off their daughters at the earliest. In many high-illiteracy states, like Rajasthan, the practice of child marriage is in vogue. Akhha Teej is D-day for the parents of minor girls, since, on that day, the parents seek salvation from the anxiety of girls growing up in their midst.

(3) A child marriage is less likely to take place if the parents are literate or at least the father is. He is, then, aware of the legal minimum age for marriage and the health hazards his daughter will face by an early marriage. If the mother, otherwise literate, has been exposed to the importance of family planning, she is also less likely to solemnise her daughter’s wedding before the legal minimum age.

(4) Among the other reasons that parents give away young daughters in marriage is the need, felt especially by families with more than one daughter, to keep wedding expenses anxiety about grown-up (14 years and above) daughters going astray, forces the less educated to give away their female children in marriage.

(5) The Child Marriage Restraint Act in 19710, raised the minimum age of marriage for girls from 15 to 110 years and for boys from 110 to 21 years. The committee, on the status of women, in its report in 1974, had recommended that all offences under the Child Marriage Restraint Act should be made cognizable and special officers be appointed to enforce the law.

(6) The crux of the problem is that the role of a girl-child in traditional rural areas is circumscribed around marriage and motherhood.

Question. What is Akhha Teej?
(a) The day when the family planning is exposed.
(b) The day when parents seek salvation from the anxiety of girls growing up in their midst.
(c) The day when the daughter faces health hazards.
(d) The day when two daughters marry simultaneously.

Question. Select the option that makes the correct use of ‘grave’, as used in the passage, to fill in the blank space.
(a) Life is a battle from cradle to _____________.
(b) In the _____________, the rich and poor lie equal.
(c) We realised very quickly that we had made a _____________ mistake.
(d) She knelt beside her father’s _____________ to place flowers.

Question. Children bound by marriage are victims of:
(a) blind customs
(b) superstitions
(c) both (a) and (b)
(d) neither (a) nor (b)

Question. Why do parents marry two daughters simultaneously?
(a) To support the daughters
(b) To avoid health hazards
(c) To save on expenses
(d) To enforce the law

Question. In what circumstance will a child marriage be less likely to take place?
(a) If the children are victims of blind customs
(b) If the parents are literate
(c) If the parents seek salvation
(d) If the parents keep wedding expenses down

Discursive Passage for Class 9

Read the following passage carefully. 

BE BONE HEALTHY

(1) Every time a child takes a soft drink, is he laying the ground work for a dangerous bone disease? Fizzy and sugary drinks don’t cause osteoporosis but, because they are often a substitute for a glass of milk, the children miss out on taking in the calcium and vitamin D they need to build a strong skeleton. Many of them also lead a sedentary lifestyle, so they aren’t getting the bone-building benefits of vigorous exercise either. These children tend to suffer from brittle bones and fractures later on in life. In addition, they could be at a risk of being diagnosed with osteoporosis at an earlier age than most others.

(2) The Indian Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ISBMR), a body comprising experts on osteoporosis, was established in 1996, with the aim of promoting research and circulating awareness about metabolic bone diseases especially this bonecrippling disease. Osteoporosis starts in childhood but its consequences are apparent at a later stage in life. This condition causes bones to become riddled with holes, like the framework of a house that’s been attacked by termites. This can lead to broken bones, which in turn, can cause deformity, chronic pain, and disability. Osteoporosis can be fatal: up to 25 per cent of older people who suffer a broken hip, die within a year. Osteoporosis isn’t just your grandmother’s health threat. Although it strikes over 50 million women in India, it also menaces over 12 million men. It causes loss of height, pain in joints and back, and fractures, and can be very depressing. So, it is important that we adopt preventive measures to save millions of people from the risk of suffering from osteoporosis.

(3) There is a new medical understanding of the best ways to protect ourselves and our children. “Simple changes in lifestyle and nutrition will help save bones”, says Dr. Mittal. He suggests, it’s never too late to adopt bone-friendly habits, like exercise that includes walking, jogging or skipping, getting enough sunlight, and getting adequate calcium, especially through fruits, vegetables, and fermented dairy products. This move in the right direction will keep the bones healthy and prevent osteoporosis.

Question. What is the aim of ISBMR?
(a) To adopt bone-friendly habits
(b) To promote research and circulate awareness about metabolic bone disease
(c) To get bone-building benefits
(d) To adopt preventive measures to save millions of people from the risk of suffering from osteoporosis

Question. Based on your reading of the passage, choose the incorrect statement from the following.
(a) Simple changes in lifestyle and nutrition will help save bones.
(b) It’s never too late to adopt bone-friendly habits.
(c) Osteoporosis starts in childhood.
(d) Fizzy and sugary drinks cause osteoporosis.

Question. Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘ground work’, as used in the passage.
1. Difficult work 2. Important work
3. Basic work 4. Ordinary work
5. Preliminary work
(a) (1) and (3)
(b) (3) and (5)
(c) (2) and (4)
(d) (2) and (5)

Question. What is the full form of ISBMR?
(a) Indian Society for Bone and Mind Research
(b) International Scheme for Bone and Mineral Reserve
(c) Indian Society for Bone and Mineral Research
(d) International Scheme for Bone and Mineral Research

Question. Osteoporosis causes bones to become:
(a) riddled with holes
(b) strong like iron
(c) shapeless
(d) none of these

Unseen Passage with multiple choice questions for Class 9

Read the following passage carefully. 

WHERE HAVE ALL THE SPARROWS GONE?

(1) They were once everywhere. Chirping and flapping their wings at the window sills, on top of cupboards, and on the branches of trees. Where have all the little sparrows gone? This is the most frequently asked question about sparrows these days.

(2) The association between humans and house sparrows dates back to several centuries and no other bird has been associated with humans on a daily basis like the house sparrow. It is a bird that evokes fond memories of childhood. The nests of sparrows dotted almost every house in the neighbourhood as well as public places like bus stands and railway stations, where they lived in colonies and survived on food grains and tiny worms.

(3) A study conducted by the Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam, highlighted the fact that the population of sparrows had fallen by over 60 per cent even in the rural areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh. A survey conducted by the British Trust for Ornithology showed that the house sparrow’s population in Britain has declined by about 510 per cent since 1970.

(4) Certainly, there is no single reason for the decline of the house sparrows. Mobile tower radiation and excessive use of chemical fertilizers are aggravating the problem and have been identified as potent sparrow killers.

(5) It is said that sparrow chicks, which require insect food for their survival in their early days, have not been getting adequate supply from their parents. This has triggered large scale death of chicks, leading to a gradual decline in their population.

(6) Urban landscape too, has been dramatically altered over the years. No longer are sparrows able to find the tiny nooks, crannies, and holes where they used to build their nests.

(7) Typically, sparrows were never an issue of concern for us with their diminutive presence in our household. Perhaps, it is this diminutive presence because of which even their gradual disappearance has gone unnoticed. Mohammed Dilawar is rightly called the Sparrow Man of India as he has been successful in drawing the attention of the world towards the declining number of house sparrows.

(8) House sparrows are an important bioindicator and their decline is a grim reminder of the degradation of the urban environment and the danger from it to the humans in the long run.

Question. What has triggered leading to a gradual decline in their population?
(a) Chicks not getting adequate supply from their parents
(b) Mobile tower radiation
(c) Degradation of the urban environment
(d) None of these

Question. Which of the following definition explains the term ‘bioindicator’?
(a) The species which have beaks and wings, and are sensitive to pollution.
(b) The species which reveal the health of the natural ecosystem.
(c) The species which reveal the presence of toxic pollutants in the environment.
(d) The species which are on the verge of extinction.

Question. ‘Their degradation is a grim reminder of the degradation of the urban environment’. Substitute the underlined word with the most appropriate option from the following.
(a) Gloomy
(b) Mild
(c) Fruitful
(d) Ultimate

Question. What is the most frequently asked question about sparrows these days?
(a) Where have all the sparrows gone?
(b) What do sparrows eat?
(c) Where do sparrows live?
(d) Why are sparrows everywhere?

Question. A survey conducted by the British Trust for Ornithology showed that:
(a) house sparrows evoke fond memories of childhood
(b) there is no single reason for the decline of the house sparrows
(c) chemical fertilizers are aggravating the problem and have been identified as potent sparrow killers
(d) house sparrows’ population in Britain has declined by about 59 per cent since 1970

Unseen Passage for Class 9 with answers pdf

Read the following passage carefully. 

HIGH-ALTITUDE CLIMBING

(1) High-altitude climbing is still a very dangerous task inspite of the availability of oxygen masks and other protective equipment, which modern climbers take along with them. These, of course, are indispensable accessories of climbing, but more important than these is the stamina of the climber, which ultimately determines the success of his attempt to climb. Throughout his journey, death is his constant companion, which he can keep at a distance only with his superb presence of mind. He has to tread every nch of the ground with utmost care, for a false step may not only strike him a fatal blow, but also bring disaster to the whole expedition. That is why, all expeditions invariably take with them Sherpas who are experienced climbers and who have a thorough knowledge of the nature of the terrain.

(2) The primary objective of a mountaineering expedition is to get to the top of a high mountain, which in the past has withstood all attempts to conquer it. But if an expedition does not reach its destination it should not be presumed that the expedition is a complete failure. Sometimes, operations are temporarily suspended because of bad weather, loss of some valuable equipment or sudden death of a member of the party. Every big expedition includes men who are interested in botany, biology, geology, and various other branches of science, and these men carry with them equipment for recording their observations related to the weather, the terrain, and the different forms of life in the higher altitudes. Other scientists, explorers, and expeditioners utilise the fruits of the earlier expeditioners’ observations. Thus, every unsuccessful expedition contributes to the success of later expeditions. The British expedition led by Colonel Hunt would have found the way to Everest much more difficult had not earlier expeditions armed them with useful knowledge about the death-dealing weather which they had to encounter in the vicinity of the summit.

Question. Why is the death rate of climbers more than that of Sherpas?
(a) Because Sherpas climb with all the necessary equipment for protection
(b) Because Sherpas have thorough knowledge of the nature of the terrain
(c) Because Sherpas have superb presence of mind
(d) All of these

Question. Why was it easy to find the way to Everest for the British expedition led by Colonel Hunt?
(a) Because the expedition was temporarily suspended due to bad weather
(b) Because they recorded their observations related to the different forms of life in the highest altitudes
(c) Because in the past they withstood all attempts to conquer the expeditions
(d) Because earlier expeditions armed them with useful knowledge about the deathdealing weather

Question. Which of the following factors determine the success of the climbers?
(a) The experience of locals
(b) Rich private organisations
(c) The experience of ordinary people
(d) Every earlier unsuccessful expedition

Question. If an expedition does not reach its destination, it should not be:
(a) suspended
(b) financed
(c) observed
(d) presumed as failure

Question. The primary objective of a mountaineering expedition is to:
(a) get to the top of a high mountain
(b) contribute to the success of later expeditions
(c) get a thorough knowledge of the nature of the terrain
(d) feast the eyes on the distant landscape

Unseen Passage for Class 9 with questions and answers

1. Overpowering prey is a challenge for creatures that do not have limbs. Some species like Russell’s viper inject poison. Some others opt for an alternative non-chemical method — rat snakes, for instance, catch and push their prey against the ground, while pythons use their muscle power to crush their prey to death. But snakes can’t be neatly divided into poisonous and non-poisonous categories.

2. Even species I listed as non-poisonous aren’t completely free of poison. The common Sand Boa, for instance, produces secretions particularly poisonous to birds. So the species doesn’t take any chance – it crushes its prey and injects poison as an extra step. Do vipers need poison powerful enough to kill hundreds of rats with just one drop? After all, they eat only one or two at a time. While hunting animals try their worst to kill most efficiently, their prey use any trick to avoid becoming a meal, such as developing immunity to poison. For instance, Californian ground squirrels are resistant to Northern Pacific rattlesnake poison.

3. Competition with prey is not the only thing driving snakes to evolve more and more deadly poison. Snakes also struggle to avoid becoming prey themselves. Some snake killers have partial immunity to poison. Famously, mongooses are highly resistant to cobra poison, and with their speed and agility, kill snakes fearlessly. It would be the death of cobras as a species if they didn’t evolve a more deadly poison to stop mongooses. Poison has another important role. It’s an extreme meat softener; specific enzymes break up the insides of the prey. Normally, a reptile depends on the sun’s warm rays to aid digestion.

4. But I wonder if we cannot use venom in our favour. In remote parts of India, local hospitality often involves leather-tough meat. I chew and chew until my jaws ache. If I spit it out or refuse, our hosts would be offended, I swallow like a python stuffing a deer down its throat and hope I don’t choke. If only I had poison.

Question. Choose the option that correctly states the meanings of ‘offended’, as used in para 4.
1. disgusting
2. upset
3. wrong
4. displeased
5. unlawful
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 4
(c) 3 and 5
(d) 4 and 5

Question. The narrator chews and chews the leather-tough meat until his jaws ache, for fear of:
(a) his hosts
(b) his guests
(c) pythons
(d) choking

Question. Which one of these animals is NOT a reptile?
(a) Option (1)
(b) Option (2)
(c) Option (3)
(d) Option (4)

Question. Hunting animals try their worst to kill their prey. What does their prey do to avoid becoming their meal?
(a) It develops strength to fight with them.
(b) It develops immunity to poison/venom.
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Neither (a) nor (b)

Question. Select the option that makes the correct use of ‘driving’, as used in para 3.
(a) Don’t talk while driving your car.
(b) He is driving his sheep into a field.
(c) Hunger is driving him to speak lie.
(d) He is driving his team efficiently.

Question. Snakes strive to evolve a more deadly poison, so that:
(a) their prey have no chance to remain alive.
(b) they can stop mongooses.
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Neither (a) nor (b)

Question. Which one of these statements is NOT TRUE about mongoose?
(a) A mongoose runs faster than a snake.
(b) A mongoose is killed by a cobra.
(c) A mongoose cannot kill a cobra.
(d) A mongoose can kill any snake.

Question. Some snake killer’s have partial immunity to:
(a) dangerous bacteria
(b) dangerous virus
(c) poisonous air
(d) poison

Question. “But snakes can’t be neatly divided into poisonous and non-poisonous categories.”
Choose the term which best matches the statement.
(a) Over-confidence
(b) Certainty
(c) Dilemma
(d) Ignorance

Question. Which of the characteristics is apt about the writer in the context: “If I spit it out or refuse, our hosts would be offended”?
(a) Reckless
(b) Compelled
(c) Patient
(d) Negligent

Short Unseen Passage Class 9 with questions and answers

Passage

1. Traditional TV and YouTube both play important roles in a changing viewing landscape, but some children feel that there is not enough content that reflects their lives.

2. Live viewing on the TV set remains an important part of children’s lives. The TV set is still used by more children than any other device for watching content, and most of this viewing is made up of live TV, with early evening family entertainment from the BBC and ITV dominating the top ten mostwatched programmes among 4-15s. For younger children, TV on the TV set makes up the largest proportion of their media time, and although there has been a decline over the last decade in the number of hours children spend watching, 2017 has seen an increase in the number of hours parents of younger children say their child spends watching TV on the TV set.

3. For older children the picture is more mixed. The 12-15s who watch TV on a TV set spend nearly 14 and a half hours a week viewing, similar to younger children. However, this is part of their larger overall media consumption, and they spend more hours online and using their mobiles in a typical week than watching on a TV set. This age group are also most likely not to watch on a TV set at all : around one in ten 12-15s say that they don’t watch any television on a TV set, higher than last year, while the number who say this is the device they mostly use to watch TV has decreased since last year to around six in ten. This change in the habits of older children is part of wider changes in the media landscape.

4. For example, more 3-11s are online than in 2016, with much of this growth coming from increased use of tablets. Unsurprisingly, tablets and other portable, connected devices are also playing an important role in TV viewing, with increases in the numbers of children who ever watch TV on a device other than a TV set, and nearly a quarter of 12-15s mostly watching on either a tablet or a mobile phone.

5. The other important factor in the changing content consumption landscape is YouTube. Double digit increases this year 2017 mean that half of 3-4s and more than eight in ten 5-15s now use YouTube. It is the most recognized content brand among 12-15s, and the one they are most likely to think includes their age group in its target audience, saying either that it is aimed specifically at their age group or at everyone. It is the one they would turn to first for all types of content they say is important to them, and the one they say they would miss the most if it was taken away. More 8-11s and 12-15s also say they prefer watching content on YouTube than TV programmes on the TV set. Some of what children are watching on YouTube includes whole programmes, but there is huge variety, and younger children are most likely to be using it to watch cartoons, minimovies or songs, while older children are most likely to watch music videos and funny or prank videos.

6. Despite the wide range of available content and services, however, around a third of 8-11s say that there are not enough programmes that show children that look like them, and four in ten 12-15s say there are not enough programmes that show children living in the same part of the country as them.

Question. For younger children, TV on the TV set makes up
(i) the best portion of their daily lives.
(ii) the only source of entertainment.
(iii) the largest proportion of their media time.
(iv) the time where they can watch what they want.

Question. 12 to 15 year olds spend more hours _____ in a typical week than watching on a TV set.
(i) online and using their mobiles
(ii) playing outside
(iii) paying games online
(iv) doing their homework

Question. Among 5 to 7 year olds, 63% mostly use a _____ to go online.
(i) computer
(ii) mobile phone
(iii) tablet
(iv) TV

Question. 90% of 12 to 15 year olds use YouTube to
I. watch music videos
II. learn extracurricular activities
III. watch funny videos or pranks
IV study about their course
(i) I and II
(ii) I and III
(iii) III and IV
(iv) II and III

Question. Which of the following is a device that the 8 to 11 year olds would miss the most ?
(i) gaming console
(ii) mobile
(iii) tablet
(iv) computer

Question. Which content brand includes 12 to 15 years age group in its target audience and is the most recognized content brand for the 12-15s?
(i) YouTube
(ii) Twitter
(iii) Facebook
(iv) Instagram

Question. Which of the following statement is not true about the 3 to 4 year olds?
(i) 1% have their own smartphone
(ii) 50 % go online for nearly 8 hours a week
(iii) 40 % play games for nearly 6 hours a week
(iv) 41% watch TV on other devices

Question. Which of the following is not a sort of content that the younger children watch on youtube?
(i) songs
(ii) mini movies
(iii) cartoons
(iv) funny videos

Question. Around a third of 8 to 11 year olds complain about media that :
(i) there are not enough educational programmes that cater to their needs.
(ii) there are not enough programmes that show children that look like them.
(iii) there are not enough funny programmes online for children their age.
(iv) there are not enough new skill learning programmes that can make them versatile.

Question. Which of the following statements is not true in the context of the passage?
(i) Early evening family entertainment from the BBC and ITV dominate the top ten mostwatched programmes among 4-15s.
(ii) 3% of 5 to 7 year olds have social media profiles.
(iii) 90% of 12 to 15 year olds go online for nearly 21 hours a week.
(iv) In this year 2017 half of 3-4s and more than eight in ten 5-15s now use YouTube.

Question. Which of the following is a synonym of the word ‘variety’.
(i) uniformity
(ii) collection
(iii) majority
(iv) category

Question. Which of the following is an antonym of the word ‘reflects’.
(i) withholds
(ii) carves
(iii) demonstrates
(iv) understands

Case based factual Passage for Class 9

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:

1. Have you ever failed at something so miserably that the thought of attempting to do it again was the last thing on your mind?

2.If your answer is yes, then you should understand that you are not a robot. Unlike robots, we human beings have feelings, emotions, and dreams. We are all meant to grow despite our circumstances and limitations. Flourishing and trying to make our dreams come true feels great when life goes our way. But what happens when it does not? What happens when you fail despite all your hard work? Do you stay down and accept defeat or do you get up again? If you tend to persevere and keep going, you have what experts call ‘grit’.

3.Falling down or failing is one of the most agonising, embarrassing, and scary human experiences. But it is also one of the most educational, empowering, and essential parts of living a successful and fulfilling life. Did you know that perseverance (grit) is one of the seven qualities that has been described as the key to personal success and betterment in society? The other six are curiosity, gratitude, optimism, selfcontrol, social intelligence, and zest. Thomas 44 is an example of grit for trying more than 1,000 times to invent the light bulb. If you are reading this with the lights on in your room, you will realise the importance of his success. When asked why he kept going despite hundreds of failures, he merely stated that they had not been failures, they were hundreds of attempts towards creating the light bulb. This statement not only revealed his grit but also his optimism for looking at the bright side.

4.Grit can be learnt to help you become more successful. One of the techniques that help is mindfulness. Mindfulness is a practice that makes an individual stay at the moment by bringing awareness of his or her experience without judgement. This practice has been used to quieten the noise of fears and doubts. Through this simple practice of mindfulness, individuals have the ability to stop the self-sabotaging downward spiral of hopelessness, despair, and frustration.

5.What did you do to overcome the negative and selfsabotaging feelings of failure? Reflect on what you did, and try to use those same powerful resources to help you today.

Question. According to the passage, what, from the following, is the greatest human quality to hold on to?
(i) healthy diet and good nutrition.
(ii) perseverance and learning from failure.
(iii) being inquisitive and not giving up on studies.
(iv) self-sabotaging feelings of failure.

Question. Select the option that suitably completes the dialogue with reference to paragraph 3.
(i) to understand that human beings have their limitations and move on.
(ii) to be realistic in your approach and give up if it doesn’t work out.
(iii) all the money in the world to never worry a day about your future.
(iv) shown the will to try something new even after all you’ve gone through.

Question. Choose the option that best conveys the message in -‘quieten the noise of fears and doubts.’
(i) shun all the anxiety and be mindful of your capabilities
(ii) hear the sound of chaos and confusion in your mind
(iii) focus on what’s wrong with you all the time
(iv) lower down the volume of all the noises in the surroundings

Question. What qualities are the key to personal success and betterment in society? Choose one option from the following:
(i) Pessimism, self-control and social intelligence.
(ii) Guilt, gratitude and optimism.
(iii) Curiosity, perseverance and zest.
(iv) Determination, procrastination and grit.

Question. Select the option with the underlined words that can suitably replace the word despair (paragraph 4).
(i)My car has been in a state of disrepair for a while now so I must get it checked.
(ii)The little kid was in distress to find out that all the chocolates have already been eaten.
(iii)Those who were not present at the meeting will be demanded an apology to the panel.
(iv)It is hard to believe sometimes that he can have such disregard for his family.

Question. A metaphor is a figure of speech that indirectly refers to one thing by mentioning another, which is not meant to be taken literally.
From the options given below, select a Metaphor for optimism that appears in the para 3.
(i) spiral of hopelessness
(ii) fulfilling life
(iii) looking at the bright side
(iv) stay at the moment

Question. Select the qualities from paragraph 3, that the author wants us to imbibe.
Being:
(1) grateful
(2) pacifistic
(3) optimistic
(4) determinate
(5) sarcastic
(i) (1), (3) and (4)
(ii) (3), (4) and (5)
(iii) (1), (2) and (4)
(iv) (2), (4) and (5)

Question. Which of the following is meant by the downward spiral of hopelessness?
(i) disturbing the natural course of events.
(ii) plummeting into depression.
(iii) circling around one thought.
(iv) deliberately trying again.

Question. What does the author advise, in paragraph 5?
(i) To be socially intelligent and knowledgeable.
(ii) Introspecting failure and moving on.
(iii) Relaxing after a day of hard work.
(iv) Sharing life lessons with one another.

Question. Choose the option that lists the quote best expressing the central idea of the passage.
(i)“I think I am going to have to supercharge my optimism to arm myself for the battle ahead.” —Rebecca Bloom
(ii) “Develop your character so that you are a person of integrity.” —Peter Cain
(iii) “Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.” —Henry Ford
(iv) “Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds.”—George Eliot

Unseen Passage for Class 9 with answers

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:

1.In the second week of August 1998, just a few days after the incidents of bombing the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam, a high-powered, brain-storming session was held near Washington D.C., to discuss various aspects of terrorism. The meeting was attended by ten of America’s leading experts in various fields such as germ and chemical warfare, public health, disease control and also by the doctors and the law enforcing officers.

2.Being asked to describe the horror of possible bio-attack, one of the experts narrated the following gloomy scenario. A culprit in a crowded business centre or in a busy shopping mall of a town empties a test tube containing some fluid, which in turn creates an unseen cloud of germ of a dreaded disease like anthrax capable of inflicting a horrible death within 5 days on any one who inhales it. At first 500, or so victims feel that they have mild influenza which may recede after a day or two. Then the symptoms return again and their lungs start filling with fluid. They rush to local hospitals for treatment, but the panic-stricken people may find that the medicare services run quickly out of drugs due to excessive demand. But no one would be able to realize that a terrorist attack has occurred.

3.One cannot deny the possibility that the germ involved would be of contagious variety capable of causing an epidemic. The meeting concluded that such attacks, apart from causing immediate human tragedy, would have dire long-term effects on the political and social fabric of a country by way of ending people’s trust on the competence of the government. The experts also said that the bombs used in Kenya and Tanzania were of the old-fashion variety and involved quantities of high explosives, but new terrorism will prove to be more deadly and probably more elusive than hijacking an aeroplane or a gelignite of previous decades.

4.According to Bruce Hoffman, an American specialist on political violence, old terrorism generally had a specific manifesto to overthrow a colonial power or the capitalist system and so on. These terrorists were not shy about planting a bomb or hijacking an aircraft and they set some limit to their brutality. Killing so many innocent people might turn their natural supporters off. Political terrorists want a lot of people watching but not a lot of people dead.

5.Old terrorism sought to change the world while the new sort is often practised by those who believe that the world has gone beyond redemption, he added. Hoffman says, New terrorism has no long term agenda but is ruthless in its short-term intentions. It is often just a cacophonous cry of protest or an outburst of religious intolerance or a protest against the West in general and the US in particular. Its perpetrators may be religious fanatics or diehard opponent of a government and see no reason to show restraint. They are simply intent on inflicting the maximum amount of pain on the victim.

Question. According to Hoffman, what, from the following, is the greatest threat from new terrorism?
(i) political display for public support.
(ii) ruthlessness and their disregard to long-term implications.
(iii) inconvenience to the economy.
(iv) taking many human lives.

Question. Select the option that suitably completes the dialogue with reference to paragraph 2.
Raj: With all the advancement and awareness in science, I fear there’s a good chance someone might misuse it with major implications.
Rahul: That’s a possibility of biological warfare which can be _____________________
(i) deadlier and have prolonged effects than usual terrorism.
(ii) not as grave and dangerous than usual terrorism.
(iii) controllable and containable to a confined space.
(iv) studied as a case for understanding terrorist ideology.

Question. Choose the option that best conveys the message in -‘cacophonous cry of protest’.
(i) Protesting by crying with tears
(ii) Demand for seeking attention at a political motive
(iii) Hushed and harmonious opposition
(iv) Harsh and loud display of dissent and objection

Question. What qualities does the germ in a possible bio-attack can have? Choose one option from the following:
(i) Controlled form of infection.
(ii) Targeting certain age group of people only.
(iii) Contagious and capable of causing an epidemic.
(iv) Short-lived with not much lethality.

Question. Select the option with the underlined words that can suitably replace the word redemption (paragraph 5).
(i)It is publicly known that his policies are beyond stupid and counter-productive.
(ii)The doctors refused to operate further because his body was damaged beyond saving.
(iii) She always told me to stop looking for answers at wrong places.
(iv)They were all disappointed that they were getting detention for something so insignificant.

Question. An alliteration is when two or more words that start with the same sounding alphabets are used repeatedly in a sentence or a phrase.
From the options given below, select an Alliteration that appears in the para 5.
(i) short-term intentions
(ii) panic-stricken people
(iii) cacophonous cry
(iv) religious intolerance

Question. Select the qualities from paragraph 4, that the old terrorism portrays. Being:
(1) revolutionary motive
(2) limited brutality
(3) empathetic humans
(4) lacking restraint
(5) politically driven
(i) (2), (3) and (5)
(ii) (1), (2) and (5)
(iii) (1), (3) and (4)
(iv) (3), (4) and (5)

Question. Which of the following is possible in a bio-attack?
(i) panic-stricken chaos in people.
(ii) organised control of disease spread.
(iii) people uniting to fight terrorism.
(iv) crowded places being the safest.

Question. What do the experts conclude, in paragraph 3?
(i) Terrorist acts can be controlled with proper awareness and military control.
(ii) The political and social fabric of a country remains largely unaffected by terrorism.
(iii) Terrorist acts make people lose trust on the competence of the government.
(iv) New terrorism will likely be hijacking of an aeroplane or a gelignite of previous decades.

Question. Choose the option that lists the quote best expressing the central idea of the passage.
(i) How can you have a war on terrorism when war itself is terrorism? —Howard Zinn
(ii)If we destroy human rights and rule of law in the response to terrorism, they have won. —Joichi Ito
(iii) New terrorism is the anti-order of the new world order of the 21st century.
(iv) Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace. —Dalai Lama

Unseen Passage for Class 9 with questions and answers pdf

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow:

1.“Cured yesterday of my disease, I died last night of my physician”, says Matthew Prior, a celebrated pharmacologist, while talking about the deleterious effects of drugs in his book, “The Remedy Worse than the Disease”. There is no dearth of patients dying of misguided treatment.

2.In this era of drugs we must familiarise ourselves with the term ‘iatrogenic disease (physician caused ailment)’. When a physician administers medicines without a complete understanding of the patient‘s condition, drugs play havoc. A person may become the victim of a worse disease or even lose his life.

3.With Analgin, for instance, special precautions should be taken in case of pregnancy, bronchial asthma, renal and hepatitic dysfunctions and blood-related disorders. It has been banned in several countries, including the USA and Sweden, because of its unexpected and negative effects that lead one even to death through an anaphylactic shock. An anaphylactic shock is a process that leads to a severe fall in the blood pressure, bronchoconstriction, the swelling of blood and lymph vessels and sometimes death because of the loss of fluid in these vessels. Anaphylaxis usually occurs suddenly, in minutes after the administration of a drug. The well-known drug, penicillin, and many other drugs, may cause anaphylaxis.

4.The term “side-effects” is a part of an ailing layman‘s vocabulary but adverse drug reactions are known only to a more aware and literate patient. Ciprofloxacin, when given for an earinfection, may cause vertigo and amoxycillin, while fighting a throat infection, may hurt the stomach. Similarly, while chemotherapy given for cancer may lead to indigestion and hair fall, steroids administered continuously may lead to obesity and diabetes.

5.Drugs are meant to eliminate disease. In the quest for avoiding the misery of sickness, man has invented medicines that may themselves cause diseases. The illness caused by a drug may be short-term or long-term. Side effects are short-term and predictable. The unpredictable and bizarre reactions are termed as adverse reactions. A variety of drugs cure many ills but are also known to cause irregular heart beat and even sudden death.

6.A strong sense of responsibility on the physician‘s part and an attitude of extreme caution on the patient‘s part can substantially help in covering at least some of the risks of medicines, if not all. There are many factors that help a doctor in his choice and use of the drug. The medical history of a patient, age, sex, personality, environment and education contribute in deciding the course of treatment. The very old and the very young are likely to suffer as their bodies are less tolerant. Older children may sometimes be more tolerant than the adults. The elderly tend to respond better to standard drug dosage. But the lower body size, slow blood flow to vital organs, decreasing metabolic capacity and tendency to multiple physical problems contribute to adverse reactions.

Question. According to the author, what must we familiarise ourselves with, among the following?
(i) different types of viral diseases and their precautions.
(ii) ailments caused due to a physician’s negligence.
(iii) working conditions of the paramedical staff.
(iv) career choices for becoming a physician

Question. Select the option that suitably completes the dialogue with reference to paragraph 4.
Eric: I don’t always believe in taking tablets when
I am sick because I am afraid of all the horrible side-effects and reactions.
Otis: Your fear is misplaced. You should rather …………………………………….

(i) educate yourself about the drugs and only take the doses prescribed by the physician.
(ii) look for natural medicines and herbs whenever you feel sick.
(iii) study and become a physician yourself so that you can understand drugs in detail.
(iv) learn about the deadly side-effects of drugs and stay away from them.

Question. Choose the option that best conveys the message in – ‘Cured yesterday of my disease, I died last night of my physician’.
(i) Patients making a recovery overnight
(ii) Physicians losing patients to irrational fear of drugs
(iii) Patients dying of misguided treatment
(iv) Physicians curing and then murdering patients

Question. What are the symptoms of an anaphylactic shock? Choose one option from the following:
(i) Swelling of blood and lymph vessels.
(ii) Sharp rise in the blood pressure.
(iii) Hyperactivity and alertness.
(iv) No signs of bronchoconstriction.

Question. Select the option with the underlined words that can suitably replace the word dearth (paragraph 1).
(i)The water supply in our city is severely affected by the drought that happened this summer.
(ii) Things have changed a lot since the death of our last diligent leader.
(iii)We took as much eggs with us as we liked because there was no scarcity of it on the farm.
(iv) His did not keep any record of the dead subjects in order to appease his superiors

Question. A Jargon is a literary term that is defined as the use of specific phrases and words in a particular situation, profession, or trade. From the options given below, select a Jargon word that appears in the para 2.
(i) iatrogenic
(ii) havoc
(iii) anaphylaxis
(iv) ciprofloxacin

Question. Select the qualities from paragraph 6, that the author wants the physicians and patients to adopt. Being:
(1) haphazard
(2) responsible
(3) cautious
(4) negligent
(5) fastidious
(i) (1), (2) and (3)
(ii) (1), (3) and (4)
(iii) (1), (2) and (5)
(iv) (2), (3) and (5)

Question. Which of the following is an outcome of continuous steroid use?
(i) vertigo and stomach ache.
(ii) indigestion and hair fall.
(iii) obesity and diabetes.
(iv) increased irritation and swelling.

Question. What does the writer inform in paragraph 3?
(i) Anaphylaxis happens to pregnant women only.
(ii) Many common drugs may cause anaphylaxis.
(iii) Only rare drugs are known to cause anaphylaxis.
(iv) Anaphylaxis occurs few days after the administration of drugs.

Question. Choose the option that lists the quote best expressing the central idea of the passage.
(i)The power of community to create health is far greater than any physician, clinic or hospital. —Mark Hyman
(ii)The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease. —Sir William Osler
(iii)Science has everything to say about what is possible. Science has nothing to say about what is permissible. —Charles Krauthammer
(iv) Wherever the art of Medicine is loved, there is also a love of Humanity. —Hippocrates