Directions (1 – 15): Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are printed in bold to help you to locate them while answering some of the questions.
Lumbini is a beautiful place in the southern part of Nepal. About 2,500 years ago, a baby boy was born to the king and queen. The baby was named Siddhartha. His mother, died when he was five days old. The baby boy grew into a handsome prince. His father tried to keep him happy. The little prince had everything he needed — fine clothes, the best food and good toys. But he was not interested in them. He Wanted to be alone and was always found in deep thought. Later, he was married to beautiful princess. She was called Yashodhara. They had a son and named him Rahul. The king hoped that Siddhartha would become great ruler.
One day Siddhartha was driving through the street in his chariot. He saw an old man and then a sick man. The old man could hardly walk. The sick man groaned in pain. Then he saw some people carrying dead body, others were wailing and weeping at the loss of dear one. Siddhartha was very upset to see much suffering and unhappiness. He was shocked, Then he saw entirely different sight. A man in yellow robes was walking along the street. There Was no trace of sadness on his radiant face, instead shone with peace. He was a monk who had given up the world to escape the misery of life.
Siddhartha wanted to find out why there was so much suffering the world. He wanted to find out how men could be free of misery. He could find neither peace nor happiness in the life he was leading at the palace. One night Siddhartha left his home, his wife and his little son. He went into the forest. He wanted to search for a way out of suffering and sorrow for all mankind. He meditated and got enlightenment. He became Lord Buddha, the enlightened one. Truth was revealed to him and he learnt all the secrets of life and the world.
He found out that the world was full of sorrow and unhappiness. The reason for it was greed and selfishness. To be free from suffering, we must be free from greed and desire. Desire is the root cause of all human suffering. He advocated the Middle Path and asked his followers to avoid the two extremes.
1. Which of the following sentences is true according to the passage?
(a) Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini.
(b) The little boy was very happy with fine clothes, good food and toys.
(c) Siddhartha divorced his first wife.
(d) Siddhartha and Yashodhara had no children and so they were very unhappy.
(e) None of these.
2. What was Siddhartha interested in as a child?
(a) He was interested in making new friends as he did not have any siblings.
(b) His interests were largely in studying and reading books.
(c) He was interested in the best of clothes and good toys.
(d) In spending time along in deep thought.
(e) In spending time with nature.
3. Which of the following can be inferred about Siddhartha?
(A) Siddhartha was different from other princess his age.
(B) Siddhartha was a spoilt child.
(C) Siddhartha was lonely because he did not have a mother.
(a) Only (A)
(b) Only (B)
(c) Only (C)
(d) Only (B) and (C)
(e) All (A), (B) and (C)
4. What did the King wish for his son, Siddhartha?
(a) He wanted Siddhartha to become a great ruler.
(b) He wished that Siddhartha would not marry Yashodhara.
(c) He wished that Siddhartha’s son would take over his kingdom.
(d) He wished that Siddhartha would behave like the other princes.
(e) He wished that Siddhartha would find the answer to all the suffering in the world.
5. What incident changed Siddhartha’s life forever?
(a) His mother’s death.
(b) The incident where he saw a monk free from the misery of life.
(c) The birth of his son.
(d) His marriage to Yashodhara.
(e) The time he met Lord Buddha.
6. Why did Siddhartha leave his home?
(a) He wanted to run away from his wife and son.
(b) He did not want to become heir to his father’s throne.
(c) He was in search of a bigger kingdom.
(d) He wanted to see the world.
(e) He wanted to search for a way out of suffering and spend time in meditation.
7. According to Siddhartha what was the reason for suffering and unhappiness in the world?
(a) The increased number of deaths.
(b) The advocacy of the Middle Path.
(c) Human greed and selfishness.
(d) People were unaware of the benefits of meditation.
(e) None of these.
8. What according to passage is the root cause for all human suffering?
(A) Desire (B) Happiness (C) Meditation
(a) Only (A)
(b) Only (B) and (C)
(c) Only (B)
(d) Only (C)
(e) All (A), (B) and (C)
9. Why was Siddhartha called the enlightened one?
(a) He was smarter than all the princess of his age.
(b) He was the King’s son.
(c) Truth was revealed to him through meditation.
(d) He had a great ability to resist temptation.
(e) He always wanted to be left alone.
10. Why did the Lord Buddha advocate the Middle Path?
(a) He believed that it was the only way to eliminate poverty.
(b) He believed that it was the only way of obtaining true happiness.
(c) He was a staunch believer of living an extreme life.
(d) He did not have a happy life being a prince.
(e) He was not a risk-taker.
Directions (11-12): Choose the word which is most nearly the SAME in meaning as the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
11. Root
(a) Secondary
(b) Common
(c) Burning
(d) True
(e) Main
12. Hardly
(a) Easily
(b) Barely
(c) Suddenly
(d) Carefully
(e) Readily
13. Radiant
(a) Full
(b) Happy
(c) Burning
(d) Sober
(e) Sickly
Directions (14 – 15): Choose the word which is most OPPOSITE in meaning to the word printed in bold as used in the passage.
14. Revealed to
(a) Hidden from
(b) Exposed to
(c) Presented to
(d) Manifested from
(e) Obtained from
15. Handsome
(a) Dear
(b) Ugly
(c) Precious
(d) Spoilt
(e) Attractive
Answers:
1-a
2-d
3-a
4-a
5-b
6-e
7-c
8-a
9-c
10-b
11-e
12-b
13-b
14-a
15-b
