PM SHRI KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA BOLARUM

On the basis of your reading of the passage given below make notes on it, in points
only using headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever
necessary – minimum 5) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an
appropriate title to it. After making notes, do write the summary in brief. (8 marks)

(1) Spruce is a tall, handsome, evergreen pine tree of temperate and arctic regions. Its
scientific name is Picea smithiana. The family is Coniferae. Spruce being the English name
of the specie, its regional name is rai, kachal, raiang, etc. Its natural habitat falls more in the
middle and inner ranges of the Himalayas and less in the higher reaches of outer ones. The
species grow naturally in the Himalayan tract starting from Sikkim from the east and rolling
over westwards up to Afghanistan. The usual altitude of its occurrence ranges from 2,300 m
to 3,300 m. It does well on clayey loam soil with fairly good moisture content.

(2) Spruce tree can be easily identified in the field from its drooping branches whorled on all
sides of the main stem and the tips of the branch – let’s drooping downwards. The bole is
straight and erect. The canopy starts at nearly middle of the total height of the bole and
tapers to a narrow end towards the top. The full crown tree thus emerges out as a typical
pyramid shape canopy.

(3) The bark of Spruce is smooth, off white to greyish brown, one to two centimetres thick,
exfoliating in small circular flakes measuring about 2-3 cm in diameter. The leaves of
Spruce, dull green in colour, needle like in shape, are 3-5 cm long and spirally arranged in all
directions of the twig. New sprouts keep appearing and old leaves getting detached and
shed almost simultaneously throughout the year. The phenomenon puts the species in a
class of evergreen trees. The flowers of Spruce are small in size and hardly visible. These
appear during March-April. The pollen grains disperse during April-May. The fruit, drooping
cones, appear during July-August and ripen by the following August-September to yield
good viable seed. The seed is about 2 mm long and 1 mm thick, has a wing which helps in
its dispersal over long distances in the fields.
(4) Spruce is a slow growing pine. Like other sibling pines, it has annual rings of growth,
which help in assessing the exact age of a particular tree. It attains maturity in about
120-150 years when its height is about 30-40 m and girth about 2-3 m. The wood is off white
in colour with a brownish tinge. It is comparatively light (14-15 kg per cubic foot) in weight
and quite elastic in texture, the wood being straight grained, it is easy to saw plane, polish
and use for joinery. It is good for all kinds of woodwork. However, it has hardly any life when
exposed to the vagaries of the weather, especially under water. Its not-free logs are highly
priced for the timber required for building aircrafts. The rest of the wood, whether knotted or
free of the lacunae, is highly priced for packing cases, making cheap furniture, bedsteads,
drawing boards, plain tables, roof ceiling, wall planking, shingles, paper pulp, matches, etc.
(5) So far as regeneration of Spruce is concerned, it needs an absolutely undisturbed
environment for the new crop to come up naturally. As per the existing practice all Spruce
forest areas requiring regeneration are close to exercise of all kinds of rights and even
departmental exploitation. And with a view to making the regeneration foolproof, the
foresters generally raise seedlings of the species in departmental nurseries and transplant
these in the field when these are nearly two years old.

On the basis of your reading of the passage given below make notes on it, in points
only
 PM SHRI KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA BOLARUM

On the basis of your reading of the passage given below make notes on it, in points
only using headings and sub-headings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever
necessary – minimum 5) and a format you consider suitable. Also supply an
appropriate title to it. After making notes, do write the summary in brief. (8 marks)

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is present in our body. It’s an important component of
our cell walls and other tissues, but it is thought to be harmful if in excess. It can lead to
blockages caused by plaque formation in the heart’s arteries causing heart disease and
heart attacks. Such blockages can also happen in arteries, in the legs or in the brain.
Cholesterol is produced in the liver, and the amount produced is influenced by our genes.
The food we consume, too, has effect on cholesterol levels. Fatty foods, especially those
high in saturated fats, and foods high in simple sugars such as cold drinks increase
cholesterol levels. Lack of physical activity and exercise also leads to elevated levels.
2. We can reduce cholesterol levels by following a heart-healthy lifestyle, which includes
regular physical activity for at least 30 minutes daily and a diet high in fruits and vegetables
and low in saturated sugar. Statins are a group of drugs most recommended for those with
high cholesterol. Red yeast rice has been shown to be effective in lowering cholesterol.
Include garlic and flaxseed in your daily diet. Olive oil, Canola oil or other oils rich in
monounsaturated fatty acids can be used for cooking in order to reduce cholesterol through
food.
3. The ill-effects of high cholesterol take time to show, and you may not realize it until it’s a
bit too late. Cholesterol, by itself is important because it insulates nerve cells and
membranes. Being a fatty substance, it does not dissolve in the blood and is packaged into
protein. There are ‘good’ HDL cholesterol and ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol. Bad cholesterol can
stick to the smooth lining of the blood vessels, where it is absorbed, while HDL mops up
excess bad cholesterol and removes it from blood vessels. Even moderate physical activity
can help increase HDL cholesterol.
4. Exercise five days a week, whether you are overweight or underweight. Aerobic exercises
like walking, cycling, swimming, slow jogging, dancing etc. for 45 minutes, three times a
week and anaerobic exercises like weight training, and sprinting, for another three days will
help increase good andreduce bad cholesterol. In order to maximize your cardiovascular
fitness, aerobic exercises should raise your heart rate to a certain level. This level is called
your target heart zone. Keep your heart relegated for at least 20 minutes. Always warm-up,
stretch, and cool down-relax-before and after any rworkout to avoid injuries. All these
contribute to a healthier and fitter life.
(A) On the basis of your reading of the above passage, make notes on it
using headings and subheadings. Use recognizable abbreviations (wherever
necessary-minimum four) and a format you consider suitable. Also, supply a
title to it.
(B) Write a summary of the passage in about 80 words.