Reading Comprehension: Practice Set 1

Read the passage and answer the questions.
The Forgotten Joy of Letters
1. There was a time when the arrival of the postman was the high point of a family's day. Children ran to the gate, grandparents adjusted their spectacles, and a single envelope could bring tears of joy or sorrow. Today, a message reaches us in a second, yet it rarely makes our hearts race.
2. Something has been gained, of course. Instant messages keep families connected across continents, help in emergencies and save paper. A student can share notes with a classmate at midnight; a soldier at a border post can video-call his mother.
3. But something has been lost too. A letter took time to write, and that time was a gift. The writer chose words carefully, crossed out a line, began again. The handwriting itself, neat or shaky, carried the person's mood. Letters were kept in tin boxes and reread for years; few people treasure a chat message.
4. Speed has also changed how we speak to each other. Short forms, emojis and quick replies leave little room for thought. Misunderstandings grow because tone is hard to judge in a hurried text.
5. Some schools and post offices are now trying to revive letter writing through carnivals, pen-pal schemes and Postal Day events. Children who take part often say that receiving a handwritten reply feels "like getting a present".
6. Perhaps we do not need to choose between the two. We can use quick messages for quick needs, and keep letters for moments that matter: a thank-you, an apology, a birthday wish to a grandparent. Words that are slowly written may be the ones that last longest.

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.
Silent Heroes of the Hills
In the hill villages of Uttarakhand, women known as "van sakhis" (friends of the forest) patrol the slopes every summer to prevent forest fires. They clear dry pine needles, dig small trenches to stop flames spreading and alert the forest department at the first sign of smoke. Because of their efforts, the number of fires in their area has fallen by nearly half in five years. They are paid little, but they say the forest gives them water, fodder and fuel, so protecting it is protecting their own homes.

Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.
The Tiny Engineers
1. Weaver birds are small, sparrow-sized birds found across India, but their nests are among the most remarkable in the bird world. The male builds the nest, using strips of grass and palm leaves that he tears with his beak.
2. He begins with a ring, tying knots with his beak and feet. Slowly, the ring grows into a hanging, bulb-shaped chamber with a long entrance tube that points downwards. This tube makes it hard for snakes and other predators to get in. Some birds even press lumps of wet mud inside the nest, perhaps to balance it in strong wind.
3. When the nest is half built, the male hangs from it, flapping his wings and calling to attract a female. She inspects the nest carefully. If she does not like it, the male may tear it down and start again.
4. Weaver birds usually build over water or on thorny trees, which offers further protection. A single tree may hold dozens of nests, swinging gently like lanterns.