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When the boat hit the sandy bottom of the sea, they all cheered.
They threw themselves overboard, headlong into the shallow
water, tears of relief pouring down their salt-encrusted cheeks.
Then, they half-stumbled, half-swam to the shore. The next
thought that occurred to each of them was ... "Where are we ?"
There was no way to tell. All they could see was a sandy beach
with a few coconut trees, some boulders, some creeping plants
and the tumbled down remnants of a make-do shelter ... just a
few fragments of coconut palms tied with rotting string on to
the trunk of a dying coconut tree.
Then they thought "Coconuts ... Food." Babu, as could be
expected, started up the tree. And, in a moment, the coconuts
were thudding on to the soft, powdery white sand. But that did
not solve the problem. They
had yet to open them. That was harder to do. All their efforts
to crack the nuts open with stones were in vain and there were
no implements around.
Then Singh said, "Drop it from the tree."
"Yes," said Ali, "on to the rocks this time. Babu, how about
it ?"
"Oh, not again!" said Babu, and then, "Ah well, alright." |
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1. |
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What had probably
happened to them ? |
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(A) |
They had been in a shipwreck. |
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(B) |
They had been adrift at sea.
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(C) |
Their boat had sunk. |
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(D) |
Their boat had developed a leak. |
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2. |
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Where had they arrived
at ? |
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(A) |
Land
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(B) |
An island |
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(C) |
A sandy bay |
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(D) |
The sea |
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3. |
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Which of these best
describes the place where they arrived at ? |
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(A) |
No one had ever lived there. |
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(B) |
There had probably been a village there long ago. |
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(C) |
It was bare. |
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(D) |
It seemed deserted.
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4. |
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Which of the
following were seen on the beach ?
(i) rocks
(ii) trees
(iii) coconuts
(iv) huts |
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(A) |
(i) and (ii) |
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(B) |
(ii) and (iii) |
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(C) |
All except (iv)
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(D) |
All the above |
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5. |
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What kind of person was
Babu ? |
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(A) |
One who gets up and does what needs to be done.
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(B) |
A leader rather than a follower. |
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(C) |
One with the most original ideas. |
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(D) |
One who enjoys climbing trees. |
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6. |
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Which of the
following best described the "shelter" ? |
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(A) |
It would certainly serve as a make-do shelter for them. |
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(B) |
It was not too bad. |
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(C) |
It would not provide much shelter, actually.
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(D) |
It was make-do but in good condition. |
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7. |
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What was the "problem"
mentioned in red. |
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(A) |
Getting the coconuts |
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(B) |
Getting food
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(C) |
Getting implements to open the coconuts |
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(D) |
Getting the coconuts open |
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8. |
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From what is described
in the passage, how would the problem be solved finally ? |
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(A) |
The boys would find other means of food. |
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(B) |
Someone would persuade Babu to pen them. |
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(C) |
Babu would persuade the others to climb the tree. |
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(D) |
The coconuts would crack open when they hit the rocks.
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