Quiz on Reading Comprehension

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

Bomb blasts have taken place near the Delhi High Court, in Mumbai, Bangalore and so on. Within a few hours of such a bomb blast, many TV channels started showing news items that said that the Indian Mujahideen or the Jaish-e-Mohammed or the Harkatul-Jihad-e-Islam had sent e-mails or text messages claiming responsibility. The names of such alleged organisations will always be Muslim ones. Now, an e-mail can be sent by any mischievous person, but by showing this on TV channels and the next day in the newspapers, the tendency is to brand all Muslims as terrorists and bomb-throwers.
The truth is that 99 per cent of the people of all communities, whether Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Sikh, and of whatever caste or region, are good. But the manner in which such news is shown on TV screens and published in newspapers tends to create the impression that all Muslims are terrorists, and evil — which is totally false. The person who sends such e-mails or text messages obviously wants to create hatred between Hindus and Muslims, which is the old British divide-and-rule policy continuing even today. Should the media, wittingly or unwittingly, become part of this policy of divide-and-rule?
No doubt there are defects not only in the media but in other institutions also, for example, the judiciary, the bureaucracy, and so on. There are two ways to remove these defects in the media. One is the democratic way, that is, through discussions, consultations and persuasion — which is the method I prefer. The other way is by using harsh measures against the media, for example, by imposing heavy fines on defaulters, stopping government advertisements to them, suspending their licenses, and so on. In a democracy, we should first try the first method to rectify the defects through the democratic method. For this purpose, I have decided to have regular get-togethers with the media, including the electronic media, so that we can all introspect and find out ways and means to rectify the defects in the media, rather than this being done by some government authority or external agency.
I propose to have such get-togethers once every two or three months, in which we can discuss issues relating to the media and try to think of how we can improve the performance of the media so that it may win the respect and confidence of the people.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

Bomb blasts have taken place near the Delhi High Court, in Mumbai, Bangalore and so on. Within a few hours of such a bomb blast, many TV channels started showing news items that said that the Indian Mujahideen or the Jaish-e-Mohammed or the Harkatul-Jihad-e-Islam had sent e-mails or text messages claiming responsibility. The names of such alleged organisations will always be Muslim ones. Now, an e-mail can be sent by any mischievous person, but by showing this on TV channels and the next day in the newspapers, the tendency is to brand all Muslims as terrorists and bomb-throwers.
The truth is that 99 per cent of the people of all communities, whether Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Sikh, and of whatever caste or region, are good. But the manner in which such news is shown on TV screens and published in newspapers tends to create the impression that all Muslims are terrorists, and evil — which is totally false. The person who sends such e-mails or text messages obviously wants to create hatred between Hindus and Muslims, which is the old British divide-and-rule policy continuing even today. Should the media, wittingly or unwittingly, become part of this policy of divide-and-rule?
No doubt there are defects not only in the media but in other institutions also, for example, the judiciary, the bureaucracy, and so on. There are two ways to remove these defects in the media. One is the democratic way, that is, through discussions, consultations and persuasion — which is the method I prefer. The other way is by using harsh measures against the media, for example, by imposing heavy fines on defaulters, stopping government advertisements to them, suspending their licenses, and so on. In a democracy, we should first try the first method to rectify the defects through the democratic method. For this purpose, I have decided to have regular get-togethers with the media, including the electronic media, so that we can all introspect and find out ways and means to rectify the defects in the media, rather than this being done by some government authority or external agency.
I propose to have such get-togethers once every two or three months, in which we can discuss issues relating to the media and try to think of how we can improve the performance of the media so that it may win the respect and confidence of the people.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

Bomb blasts have taken place near the Delhi High Court, in Mumbai, Bangalore and so on. Within a few hours of such a bomb blast, many TV channels started showing news items that said that the Indian Mujahideen or the Jaish-e-Mohammed or the Harkatul-Jihad-e-Islam had sent e-mails or text messages claiming responsibility. The names of such alleged organisations will always be Muslim ones. Now, an e-mail can be sent by any mischievous person, but by showing this on TV channels and the next day in the newspapers, the tendency is to brand all Muslims as terrorists and bomb-throwers.
The truth is that 99 per cent of the people of all communities, whether Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Sikh, and of whatever caste or region, are good. But the manner in which such news is shown on TV screens and published in newspapers tends to create the impression that all Muslims are terrorists, and evil — which is totally false. The person who sends such e-mails or text messages obviously wants to create hatred between Hindus and Muslims, which is the old British divide-and-rule policy continuing even today. Should the media, wittingly or unwittingly, become part of this policy of divide-and-rule?
No doubt there are defects not only in the media but in other institutions also, for example, the judiciary, the bureaucracy, and so on. There are two ways to remove these defects in the media. One is the democratic way, that is, through discussions, consultations and persuasion — which is the method I prefer. The other way is by using harsh measures against the media, for example, by imposing heavy fines on defaulters, stopping government advertisements to them, suspending their licenses, and so on. In a democracy, we should first try the first method to rectify the defects through the democratic method. For this purpose, I have decided to have regular get-togethers with the media, including the electronic media, so that we can all introspect and find out ways and means to rectify the defects in the media, rather than this being done by some government authority or external agency.
I propose to have such get-togethers once every two or three months, in which we can discuss issues relating to the media and try to think of how we can improve the performance of the media so that it may win the respect and confidence of the people.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

Bomb blasts have taken place near the Delhi High Court, in Mumbai, Bangalore and so on. Within a few hours of such a bomb blast, many TV channels started showing news items that said that the Indian Mujahideen or the Jaish-e-Mohammed or the Harkatul-Jihad-e-Islam had sent e-mails or text messages claiming responsibility. The names of such alleged organisations will always be Muslim ones. Now, an e-mail can be sent by any mischievous person, but by showing this on TV channels and the next day in the newspapers, the tendency is to brand all Muslims as terrorists and bomb-throwers.
The truth is that 99 per cent of the people of all communities, whether Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Sikh, and of whatever caste or region, are good. But the manner in which such news is shown on TV screens and published in newspapers tends to create the impression that all Muslims are terrorists, and evil — which is totally false. The person who sends such e-mails or text messages obviously wants to create hatred between Hindus and Muslims, which is the old British divide-and-rule policy continuing even today. Should the media, wittingly or unwittingly, become part of this policy of divide-and-rule?
No doubt there are defects not only in the media but in other institutions also, for example, the judiciary, the bureaucracy, and so on. There are two ways to remove these defects in the media. One is the democratic way, that is, through discussions, consultations and persuasion — which is the method I prefer. The other way is by using harsh measures against the media, for example, by imposing heavy fines on defaulters, stopping government advertisements to them, suspending their licenses, and so on. In a democracy, we should first try the first method to rectify the defects through the democratic method. For this purpose, I have decided to have regular get-togethers with the media, including the electronic media, so that we can all introspect and find out ways and means to rectify the defects in the media, rather than this being done by some government authority or external agency.
I propose to have such get-togethers once every two or three months, in which we can discuss issues relating to the media and try to think of how we can improve the performance of the media so that it may win the respect and confidence of the people.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com

Directions: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words are given in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

Bomb blasts have taken place near the Delhi High Court, in Mumbai, Bangalore and so on. Within a few hours of such a bomb blast, many TV channels started showing news items that said that the Indian Mujahideen or the Jaish-e-Mohammed or the Harkatul-Jihad-e-Islam had sent e-mails or text messages claiming responsibility. The names of such alleged organisations will always be Muslim ones. Now, an e-mail can be sent by any mischievous person, but by showing this on TV channels and the next day in the newspapers, the tendency is to brand all Muslims as terrorists and bomb-throwers.
The truth is that 99 per cent of the people of all communities, whether Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Sikh, and of whatever caste or region, are good. But the manner in which such news is shown on TV screens and published in newspapers tends to create the impression that all Muslims are terrorists, and evil — which is totally false. The person who sends such e-mails or text messages obviously wants to create hatred between Hindus and Muslims, which is the old British divide-and-rule policy continuing even today. Should the media, wittingly or unwittingly, become part of this policy of divide-and-rule?
No doubt there are defects not only in the media but in other institutions also, for example, the judiciary, the bureaucracy, and so on. There are two ways to remove these defects in the media. One is the democratic way, that is, through discussions, consultations and persuasion — which is the method I prefer. The other way is by using harsh measures against the media, for example, by imposing heavy fines on defaulters, stopping government advertisements to them, suspending their licenses, and so on. In a democracy, we should first try the first method to rectify the defects through the democratic method. For this purpose, I have decided to have regular get-togethers with the media, including the electronic media, so that we can all introspect and find out ways and means to rectify the defects in the media, rather than this being done by some government authority or external agency.
I propose to have such get-togethers once every two or three months, in which we can discuss issues relating to the media and try to think of how we can improve the performance of the media so that it may win the respect and confidence of the people.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com

Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

When wealth came into existence, a moral structure was made around money. The Puritan legacy inhibited luxury and self-indulgence. Thoughtful people spread a practical gospel that emphasized hard work, temperance and frugality and the result was quite remarkable.
The world has been affluent since its founding. But it was, by and large, not corrupted by wealth. For centuries, it remained industrious, ambitious and frugal. Over the past 30 years, much of that has been shredded. The social norms and institutions that encouraged frugality and spending what you earn have been undermined. The institutions that encourage debt and living for the moment have been strengthened. The moral guardians are forever looking for decadence out of movies and reality shows. But the most rampant decadence today is financial decadence, the trampling of decent norms about how to use and harness money.
The deterioration of financial traditions has meant two things. First, it has meant an explosion of debt that inhibits social mobility and ruins lives. Second, the transformation has led to a stark financial polarization. On one hand, there is what is called an investor class. It has tax-deferred savings plans, as well as an army of financial advisers. On the other hand, there is the lottery class, people with little access to financial planning but plenty of access to payday lenders, credit cards and lottery agents.
The loosening of financial inhibition has meant more options for the well-educated but more temptation and chaos for the most vulnerable. Social norms, the invisible threads that guide behaviors, have deteriorated. Over the past years, people have been more socially conscious about protecting the environment and inhaling tobacco. They have become less socially conscious about money and debt.
The agents of destruction are many and State governments have also played a role. They hawk their lottery products with aggression, which some people call a tax on stupidity. Twenty percent of the world’s population consists of frequent players, spending about $60 billion a year. Aside from the financial toll, the moral toll is comprehensive. Here is the government, the guardian of order, telling people that they don’t have to work to build for the future. They can strike it rich for nothing.
Payday lenders have also played a role. They seductively offer fast cash – at absurd interest rates – to 15 million people every month. Credit card companies have played a role. Instead of targeting the financially astute, who pay off their debts, they have found that they can make money off the young and vulnerable. Fifty-six percent of students in their final year of college carry four or more credit cards. The nation’s leaders have played a role as they have always had an incentive to shove costs for current promises onto the backs of future generations. It has only now become respectable to do so. The market itself has played a role. Software stalwarts built socially useful products to make their fortune. But what message do the salary packages that their top, managers get send across the country when they ignore millions of fellow countrymen who suffer from proverty, malnutrition or hunger? Austerity has become a thing of the past.
The list could go on. But there could be some recommendations. First, raise public consciousness about debt the way the anti-smoking activists did with their campaign. Second, create institutions that encourage thrift. Foundations and religious institutions could issue short-term loans to cut into the payday lenders’ business. Colleges could reduce credit card advertising on campus. The tax code should tax consumption not income.
But the most important thing is to shift values. The ‘wise’ made it prestigious to embrace certain middle class virtues. It is considered normal to play the debt game and imagine that decisions made today will have no consequences in the future.

Source: www.governing.com

Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

When wealth came into existence, a moral structure was made around money. The Puritan legacy inhibited luxury and self-indulgence. Thoughtful people spread a practical gospel that emphasized hard work, temperance and frugality and the result was quite remarkable.
The world has been affluent since its founding. But it was, by and large, not corrupted by wealth. For centuries, it remained industrious, ambitious and frugal. Over the past 30 years, much of that has been shredded. The social norms and institutions that encouraged frugality and spending what you earn have been undermined. The institutions that encourage debt and living for the moment have been strengthened. The moral guardians are forever looking for decadence out of movies and reality shows. But the most rampant decadence today is financial decadence, the trampling of decent norms about how to use and harness money.
The deterioration of financial traditions has meant two things. First, it has meant an explosion of debt that inhibits social mobility and ruins lives. Second, the transformation has led to a stark financial polarization. On one hand, there is what is called an investor class. It has tax-deferred savings plans, as well as an army of financial advisers. On the other hand, there is the lottery class, people with little access to financial planning but plenty of access to payday lenders, credit cards and lottery agents.
The loosening of financial inhibition has meant more options for the well-educated but more temptation and chaos for the most vulnerable. Social norms, the invisible threads that guide behaviors, have deteriorated. Over the past years, people have been more socially conscious about protecting the environment and inhaling tobacco. They have become less socially conscious about money and debt.
The agents of destruction are many and State governments have also played a role. They hawk their lottery products with aggression, which some people call a tax on stupidity. Twenty percent of the world’s population consists of frequent players, spending about $60 billion a year. Aside from the financial toll, the moral toll is comprehensive. Here is the government, the guardian of order, telling people that they don’t have to work to build for the future. They can strike it rich for nothing.
Payday lenders have also played a role. They seductively offer fast cash – at absurd interest rates – to 15 million people every month. Credit card companies have played a role. Instead of targeting the financially astute, who pay off their debts, they have found that they can make money off the young and vulnerable. Fifty-six percent of students in their final year of college carry four or more credit cards. The nation’s leaders have played a role as they have always had an incentive to shove costs for current promises onto the backs of future generations. It has only now become respectable to do so. The market itself has played a role. Software stalwarts built socially useful products to make their fortune. But what message do the salary packages that their top, managers get send across the country when they ignore millions of fellow countrymen who suffer from proverty, malnutrition or hunger? Austerity has become a thing of the past.
The list could go on. But there could be some recommendations. First, raise public consciousness about debt the way the anti-smoking activists did with their campaign. Second, create institutions that encourage thrift. Foundations and religious institutions could issue short-term loans to cut into the payday lenders’ business. Colleges could reduce credit card advertising on campus. The tax code should tax consumption not income.
But the most important thing is to shift values. The ‘wise’ made it prestigious to embrace certain middle class virtues. It is considered normal to play the debt game and imagine that decisions made today will have no consequences in the future.

Source: www.governing.com

Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

When wealth came into existence, a moral structure was made around money. The Puritan legacy inhibited luxury and self-indulgence. Thoughtful people spread a practical gospel that emphasized hard work, temperance and frugality and the result was quite remarkable.
The world has been affluent since its founding. But it was, by and large, not corrupted by wealth. For centuries, it remained industrious, ambitious and frugal. Over the past 30 years, much of that has been shredded. The social norms and institutions that encouraged frugality and spending what you earn have been undermined. The institutions that encourage debt and living for the moment have been strengthened. The moral guardians are forever looking for decadence out of movies and reality shows. But the most rampant decadence today is financial decadence, the trampling of decent norms about how to use and harness money.
The deterioration of financial traditions has meant two things. First, it has meant an explosion of debt that inhibits social mobility and ruins lives. Second, the transformation has led to a stark financial polarization. On one hand, there is what is called an investor class. It has tax-deferred savings plans, as well as an army of financial advisers. On the other hand, there is the lottery class, people with little access to financial planning but plenty of access to payday lenders, credit cards and lottery agents.
The loosening of financial inhibition has meant more options for the well-educated but more temptation and chaos for the most vulnerable. Social norms, the invisible threads that guide behaviors, have deteriorated. Over the past years, people have been more socially conscious about protecting the environment and inhaling tobacco. They have become less socially conscious about money and debt.
The agents of destruction are many and State governments have also played a role. They hawk their lottery products with aggression, which some people call a tax on stupidity. Twenty percent of the world’s population consists of frequent players, spending about $60 billion a year. Aside from the financial toll, the moral toll is comprehensive. Here is the government, the guardian of order, telling people that they don’t have to work to build for the future. They can strike it rich for nothing.
Payday lenders have also played a role. They seductively offer fast cash – at absurd interest rates – to 15 million people every month. Credit card companies have played a role. Instead of targeting the financially astute, who pay off their debts, they have found that they can make money off the young and vulnerable. Fifty-six percent of students in their final year of college carry four or more credit cards. The nation’s leaders have played a role as they have always had an incentive to shove costs for current promises onto the backs of future generations. It has only now become respectable to do so. The market itself has played a role. Software stalwarts built socially useful products to make their fortune. But what message do the salary packages that their top, managers get send across the country when they ignore millions of fellow countrymen who suffer from proverty, malnutrition or hunger? Austerity has become a thing of the past.
The list could go on. But there could be some recommendations. First, raise public consciousness about debt the way the anti-smoking activists did with their campaign. Second, create institutions that encourage thrift. Foundations and religious institutions could issue short-term loans to cut into the payday lenders’ business. Colleges could reduce credit card advertising on campus. The tax code should tax consumption not income.
But the most important thing is to shift values. The ‘wise’ made it prestigious to embrace certain middle class virtues. It is considered normal to play the debt game and imagine that decisions made today will have no consequences in the future.

Source: www.governing.com

Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

When wealth came into existence, a moral structure was made around money. The Puritan legacy inhibited luxury and self-indulgence. Thoughtful people spread a practical gospel that emphasized hard work, temperance and frugality and the result was quite remarkable.
The world has been affluent since its founding. But it was, by and large, not corrupted by wealth. For centuries, it remained industrious, ambitious and frugal. Over the past 30 years, much of that has been shredded. The social norms and institutions that encouraged frugality and spending what you earn have been undermined. The institutions that encourage debt and living for the moment have been strengthened. The moral guardians are forever looking for decadence out of movies and reality shows. But the most rampant decadence today is financial decadence, the trampling of decent norms about how to use and harness money.
The deterioration of financial traditions has meant two things. First, it has meant an explosion of debt that inhibits social mobility and ruins lives. Second, the transformation has led to a stark financial polarization. On one hand, there is what is called an investor class. It has tax-deferred savings plans, as well as an army of financial advisers. On the other hand, there is the lottery class, people with little access to financial planning but plenty of access to payday lenders, credit cards and lottery agents.
The loosening of financial inhibition has meant more options for the well-educated but more temptation and chaos for the most vulnerable. Social norms, the invisible threads that guide behaviors, have deteriorated. Over the past years, people have been more socially conscious about protecting the environment and inhaling tobacco. They have become less socially conscious about money and debt.
The agents of destruction are many and State governments have also played a role. They hawk their lottery products with aggression, which some people call a tax on stupidity. Twenty percent of the world’s population consists of frequent players, spending about $60 billion a year. Aside from the financial toll, the moral toll is comprehensive. Here is the government, the guardian of order, telling people that they don’t have to work to build for the future. They can strike it rich for nothing.
Payday lenders have also played a role. They seductively offer fast cash – at absurd interest rates – to 15 million people every month. Credit card companies have played a role. Instead of targeting the financially astute, who pay off their debts, they have found that they can make money off the young and vulnerable. Fifty-six percent of students in their final year of college carry four or more credit cards. The nation’s leaders have played a role as they have always had an incentive to shove costs for current promises onto the backs of future generations. It has only now become respectable to do so. The market itself has played a role. Software stalwarts built socially useful products to make their fortune. But what message do the salary packages that their top, managers get send across the country when they ignore millions of fellow countrymen who suffer from proverty, malnutrition or hunger? Austerity has become a thing of the past.
The list could go on. But there could be some recommendations. First, raise public consciousness about debt the way the anti-smoking activists did with their campaign. Second, create institutions that encourage thrift. Foundations and religious institutions could issue short-term loans to cut into the payday lenders’ business. Colleges could reduce credit card advertising on campus. The tax code should tax consumption not income.
But the most important thing is to shift values. The ‘wise’ made it prestigious to embrace certain middle class virtues. It is considered normal to play the debt game and imagine that decisions made today will have no consequences in the future.

Source: www.governing.com

Direction: Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been printed in bold to help you locate them while answering some of the questions.

When wealth came into existence, a moral structure was made around money. The Puritan legacy inhibited luxury and self-indulgence. Thoughtful people spread a practical gospel that emphasized hard work, temperance and frugality and the result was quite remarkable.
The world has been affluent since its founding. But it was, by and large, not corrupted by wealth. For centuries, it remained industrious, ambitious and frugal. Over the past 30 years, much of that has been shredded. The social norms and institutions that encouraged frugality and spending what you earn have been undermined. The institutions that encourage debt and living for the moment have been strengthened. The moral guardians are forever looking for decadence out of movies and reality shows. But the most rampant decadence today is financial decadence, the trampling of decent norms about how to use and harness money.
The deterioration of financial traditions has meant two things. First, it has meant an explosion of debt that inhibits social mobility and ruins lives. Second, the transformation has led to a stark financial polarization. On one hand, there is what is called an investor class. It has tax-deferred savings plans, as well as an army of financial advisers. On the other hand, there is the lottery class, people with little access to financial planning but plenty of access to payday lenders, credit cards and lottery agents.
The loosening of financial inhibition has meant more options for the well-educated but more temptation and chaos for the most vulnerable. Social norms, the invisible threads that guide behaviors, have deteriorated. Over the past years, people have been more socially conscious about protecting the environment and inhaling tobacco. They have become less socially conscious about money and debt.
The agents of destruction are many and State governments have also played a role. They hawk their lottery products with aggression, which some people call a tax on stupidity. Twenty percent of the world’s population consists of frequent players, spending about $60 billion a year. Aside from the financial toll, the moral toll is comprehensive. Here is the government, the guardian of order, telling people that they don’t have to work to build for the future. They can strike it rich for nothing.
Payday lenders have also played a role. They seductively offer fast cash – at absurd interest rates – to 15 million people every month. Credit card companies have played a role. Instead of targeting the financially astute, who pay off their debts, they have found that they can make money off the young and vulnerable. Fifty-six percent of students in their final year of college carry four or more credit cards. The nation’s leaders have played a role as they have always had an incentive to shove costs for current promises onto the backs of future generations. It has only now become respectable to do so. The market itself has played a role. Software stalwarts built socially useful products to make their fortune. But what message do the salary packages that their top, managers get send across the country when they ignore millions of fellow countrymen who suffer from proverty, malnutrition or hunger? Austerity has become a thing of the past.
The list could go on. But there could be some recommendations. First, raise public consciousness about debt the way the anti-smoking activists did with their campaign. Second, create institutions that encourage thrift. Foundations and religious institutions could issue short-term loans to cut into the payday lenders’ business. Colleges could reduce credit card advertising on campus. The tax code should tax consumption not income.
But the most important thing is to shift values. The ‘wise’ made it prestigious to embrace certain middle class virtues. It is considered normal to play the debt game and imagine that decisions made today will have no consequences in the future.

Source: www.governing.com