Discursive Passage

1. Read the below given unseen passage and answer the questions:-
The choices we make on a daily basis—wearing a seatbelt, lifting heavy objects correctly or
purposely staying out of any dangerous situation—can either ensure our safety or bring about
potentially harmful circumstances.
You and I need to make a decision that we are going to get our lives in order. Exercising self-
control, self-discipline and establishing boundaries and borders in our lives are some of the most
important things we can do. A life without discipline is one that’s filled with carelessness.
We can think it’s kind of exciting to live life on the edge. We like the image of “Yeah! That’s me!
Living on the edge! Woo-hoo!” It’s become a popular way to look at life. But if you see, even
highways have lines, which provide margins for our safety while we’re driving. If we go over one
side, we’ll go into the ditch. If we cross over the line in the middle, we could get killed. And we
like those lines because they help to keep us safe. Sometimes we don’t even realize how lines help
to keep us safe.
I’m not proud of this, but for the first 20 years of my life at work, I ignored my limits. I felt
horrible, physically, most of the time. I used to tell myself, “I know I have limits and that I’ve
reached them, but I’m going to ignore them and see if or how long I can get by with it.” I ran to
doctors, trying to make myself feel better through pills, vitamins, natural stuff and anything I could
get my hands on. Some of the doctors would tell me, “It’s just stress.” That just made me mad. I
thought stress meant you don’t like what you do or can’t handle life, and I love what I do. But I
kept pushing myself, travelling, doing speaking engagements and so on— simply exhausting
myself.
Finally, I understood I was living an unsustainable life and needed to make some changes in my
outlook and lifestyle.
You and I don’t have to be like everyone else or keep up with anyone else. Each of us needs to be
exactly the way we are, and we don’t have to apologize for it. We’re not all alike, and we need to
find a comfort zone in which we can enjoy our lives instead of making ourselves sick with an
overload of stress and pressure.
On the basis of understanding the passage, answer the questions. (1×12=12)
Q1) Which of the characteristics are apt about the writer in the following context: “I know I have
limits and that I’ve reached them, but I’m going to ignore them and see if or how long I can get by
with it.” ?
1. negligent 2. Indecisive 3. Spontaneous 4. reckless
5. purposeless 6. patient
a) 2 and 5 b) 3 and 6 c) 1 and 4 d) 2 and 3
Q2) The reason why living on the edge has become popular is because of the
a) constant need for something different. b) population being much younger.
c) exhausting effort to make changes. d) strong tendency to stay within our limits.
Q3) The phrase “potentially harmful circumstances” refers to circumstances that can
(a) certainly be dangerous. (b) be fairly dangerous.
(c) be possibly dangerous. (d) seldom be dangerous.
Q4). Choose the option that correctly states the two meanings of ‘outlook’, as used in the passage.
1. A person’s evaluation of life 2. A person’s experiences in life
3. A person’s point of view towards life 4. A person’s regrets in life
5. A person’s general attitude to life
a) (1) and (4) b) (2) and (3) c) (3) and (5) d) (4) and (5)
Q5) Choose the option that best captures the central idea of the passage from the given quotes.
1. It’s all about quality of life and finding a happy balance between work and friends.
2. To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short.
3. Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.
4. Balance is not something you find. It’s something you create.
a) Option (1) b) Option (2) c) Option (3) d) Option (4)
Q6) The author explains the importance of discipline and boundaries in our lives using the
example of
a) road accidents. b) traffic rules. c) lines on the highway. d) safe driving.
Q7) The author attempts to __________________ the readers through this write-up.
a) rebuke b) question c) offer aid to d) offer advice to
Q8) What is the message conveyed in the last paragraph of the passage?
a) Love what you do. b) Love yourself to love others.
c) Be the best version of yourself. d) Be yourself
Q9) Which of the following will be the most appropriate title for the passage?
a) Much too soon b) Enough is enough
c) How much is too much? d) Have enough to do?
Q10) The author uses colloquial words such as “yeah” and “Woo-hoo!”.
Which of the following is NOT a colloquial word?
a) hooked b) guy c) stuff d) stress
Q11) Select the option that makes the correct use of “unsustainable”, as used in the passage, to fill
in the blank space.
a) In the long run, the ______ officials followed emergency procedures.
b) Emergency procedures were _______ by the officials.
c) Officials reported an ________ set of events during the emergency.
d) Officials admit that the emergency system is _______ in the longer run.
Q12) What does the author mean when he says, “to get our lives in order”?
a) To resume our lives. b) To organize our lives.
c) To rebuild our lives. d) To control our lives.
 Case-Based Factual Passage
2. Read the unseen passage for the Class 10 English exam given below and answer the
questions that follow:
Cataract is the major cause of blindness, which is also caused by damage to the cornea. It occurs
more often in old age. As one starts growing old, the lens of the eye hardens, loses its transparency
and becomes opaque. It obstructs the light rays from entering the eye.
The onset of cataract blurs the vision. Sometimes, the cataract patient sees multiple images instead
of a single object image. Because of the gradual development of cataract, the afflicted person loses
his/her vision, and the world becomes dark to him/her.
The development of cataract is a complex process. However, the following factors can be
attributed to its formation. Cataract generally develops in old age but sometimes, children are born
with cataract because of hereditary defect. Eye injuries too, can cause cataracts.
People exposed to sun rays for longer periods develop cataract earlier than others. Researchers
opine that the smoke inhaled while smoking carries substances internally damaging the eyes.
Ultraviolet radiation, invisible to the human eye, is linked to skin cancer. The victim loses vision
and the world becomes dark to him.
On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer any eight of the following
questions: 1×8=8
(a) What is the major cause of blindness?

(c) Why does the lens of the eye become opaque in old age?

(f) How does cataract affect its victim ultimately?

(d) How does one detect cataract in the early stages?

(e) Give any two factors which are responsible for the formation of cataract.

(i) Find the word from para 1 that means ‘that through which light cannot enter’.

(g) Which type of cancer is caused by ultraviolet radiation?

(b) When does cataract generally occur?

(h) How is smoking responsible for the development of cataract?