COMPREHENSION PRACTICE

  📚 Unit 7: 

Antim: "Sir, can a blood donor acquire HIV?" 

Mr. Bakshi: "That's a good question. By the way, a student like you cannot donate blood." 

Antim: "I know that, sir. I just want to know." 

Mr. Bakshi: "It is quite safe to donate blood to an HIV patient. The blood donor cannot get infected because the instruments are sanitized."

Q1: What is Antim's question?

A1: Antim wants to know if a blood donor can acquire HIV.

Q2: What does Mr. Bakshi tell Antim?

A2: Mr. Bakshi tells Antym that it is quite safe to donate blood to an HIV patient.

Dr. Shah: "Good evening, Jignesh. What's your problem?" 

Jignesh: "Lack of self-confidence is my problem. It leads to me in indecisiveness. I cannot take quick decision, and I feel I waste my time. I prepare time table but can't follow it. How can I build up my confidence?"

Q1: What is Jignesh's problem?

A1: Jignesh lacks self-confidence.

Q2: What problem does Jignesh face because of his lack of self-confidence?

A2:Jignesh faces indecisiveness because of his lack of self-confidence.

Mr. Bakshi: "Tell me, how many days do you plan for, Jignesh?" 

Jignesh: "I go for monthly planning." Mr. Bakshi: "Jignesh, don't plan for such a long period. Don't set such a difficult goal to achieve. Be practical."

Q1: How many days does Jignesh plan for?

A1:Jignesh plans for a month.

Q2: What does Mr. Bakshi advise Jignesh?

A2: Mr. Bakshi advises Jignesh not to plan for a long period and not to set such difficult goals to achieve.

Jignesh: "So should I plan for a week, sir?" 

Mr. Bakshi: "Not even for a week. Plan for only one day and try to follow it. Get habituated to do like this." 

Jignesh: "Will it build confidence in me?" 

Mr. Bakshi: "Certainly. Only a few minutes back you said I cannot follow the time table. This fact discourages you. Follow time table for some days. It will boost your confidence."

Q1: What will boost Jignesh's confidence?

A1:If Jignesh plans for only one day and tries to follow it, he will get habituated to doing like that and it will boost his confidence.

Q2: What discourages Jignesh?

A2: Jignesh gets discouraged because when he cannot follow the time table.

Dilshad: "My face is full of pimples. How can I get rid of them?" 

Dr. Shah: "What have you done so far?" Dilshad: "I have applied various creams but nothing has worked." 

Dr. Shah: "Dilshad, don't worry too much. Pimples are common at this age. They are sure to go." 

Dilshad: "But how? I am tired of applying creams." 

Dr. Shah: "Don't get carried away by the ads. Better consult a skin specialist."

Q1: What is Dilshad's problem?

A1: Dilshad has pimples on her face.

Q2: What has she done about it?

A2: She has applied various creams but nothing has worked.

Mr. Bakshi: "Now tell me, what are your hobbies?" 

Harish: "Reading newspaper, magazine, and playing on tabla." 

Mr. Bakshi: "That's good. Now whenever you feel like chewing gutkha, read an interesting news item or article from a newspaper, or play on tabla. Be with your friends, talk to them, and play some games of your choice. Keep your mind engaged in different activities. I am sure you will be able to get rid of this habit."

Q1: What are Harish's hobbies?

A1: Harish likes to read newspapers, magazines, and to playing on tabla.

Q2: What is Mr. Bakshi's advice to Harish?

A2: Mr. Bakshi advises Harish to read an interesting news item or article from newspaper or play on tabla or be with friends, talk to them or play some game of his choice.

📚 Unit 8: A Day in the Life of an Indian Fighter Pilot

This mission is assigned by Command Headquarter. War time conditions are practiced as actually as possible. On this day, Cookie is too busy to worry about risk. He calls the meteorological officer to get the weather report. Thick clouds at 550 meters, visibility 5 km, haze at 400 meters, west wind at 15 km per hour and slight air disturbance.

**Q1: Why does Cookie call the meteorological officer?**

**A1:** Cookie calls the meteorological officer to get the weather report.

**Q2: How was the weather on that day?**

**A2:** On that day, there were thick clouds at 550 meters, visibility 5 km, haze at 400 meters, west wind at 15 km per hour and slight air disturbance.

Only 20 minutes are left before engine starting time. Cookie grabs helmet, oxygen mask and lead and headset and walks to the servicing station. There he examines the form certifying that every part in the plane has been checked. Then he walks around the plan to check for leaks, loose panels and pins. There are none. So he climbs into his seat, connects his oxygen supply and radio. Next he pulls out a safety pin from the seat and becomes live. If he pulls the cord, the seat will parachute with will rock at 200 meters out of the aircraft in less than a second.

**Q1: What does Cookie carry with him to the servicing station?**

**A1:** Cookie carries his helmet, oxygen mask, and headset to the servicing station.

**Q2: What does Cookie examine?**

**A2:** Cookie examines the forms certifying that every part in the plane has been checked.

Now he begins to taxi on the runway. Wingman Tyagi joins him in another MiG 21, which is a single-seater fighter plan. Take off permission received. The two pilots accelerate on the runway. Their wings tips are just some centimeters apart. They lift to the 360 km per hour and soon climb up at the 950 km per hour. It is 6:55 AM, 15 minutes before the time on the target.

**Q1: Which plan is Tyagi flying?**

**A1:** Tyagi is flying a MiG 21, a single-seater fighter plane.

**Q2: At what speed do they lift off?**

**A2:** They lift off at 360 kilometers per hour.

At 6:55 AM, they reach their first checkpoint, a village named Mirthal down on the Earth. Cookie begins to time his target. As they rise up to 450 meters, Tyagi's plane rocks violently due to air bumps. "A bit bumpy here," says Tyagi on the radio. "Breakfast may come up before the bombs goes down." Cookie jokes. Two hunters appear far from the right. As the enemy planes, they turn away and vanish.

**Q1: Which is their first checkpoint?**

**A1:** Their first checkpoint is a village named Mirthal.

**Q2: What happens to Tyagi's plane at 450 meters?**

**A2:** At 450 meters, Tyagi's plane rocks violently due to air bumps.

There are clouds all around. The earth has disappeared. The two MiGs are fast approaching the target. Now both the plants dive below the clouds. Their plans are flying lower. Cookie sees the target, an enemy tank, and releases the bomb. This is a perfect opportunity to rehearse attack procedures and bomb aiming.

**Q1: What is the target?**

**A1:** The target is an enemy tank.

**Q2: For what is this exercise a perfect opportunity?**

**A2:** This exercise is a perfect opportunity to rehearse attack procedures and bomb aiming.

Like every Indian fighter pilot, Cookie Suresh does several 100 hours of flying in the year, generally two day time flights and one night short. This means that more than half of his working hours are devoted to flying, mission planning, and reporting. For the rest of the time, 41-year-old Cookie is an attack instructor and an air combat leader and teacher of accurate weapon delivery techniques. He also sees that the pilots in his squadron maintain his proficiency. Every few years, a pilot is rested for a year or two at a desk job.

**Q1: What duties does Cookie perform for the rest of the time?**

**A1:** For the rest of the time, Cookie is an attack instructor, an air combat leader, and teacher of accurate weapon delivery techniques.

**Q2: In what does Cookie spend more than half of his working hours?**

**A2:** Cookie spends more than half of his working hours in flying, mission planning, and reporting.

📚 Unit 9: 

Now the wind became stronger and the light became dim, but the children went on with their game. They were kicking a big red ball and jumping with the movement of the ball. Suddenly there was another ball among players, a brown one. The girls started screaming and the boys shouted at the top of their voice.

**Q1: What were the children doing?**

**A1:** The children were kicking a big red ball and jumping with his movement.

**Q2: What did girls do on seeing the brown ball?**

**A2:** The girls started screaming on seeing the brown ball.

"It's too much now. Come inside," shouted her mother and came out in the balcony to take her daughter in the room. But she saw some movement in Reshma's lap and heard faint quacks. "What is this?" she cried. "I don't know, Mummy, it has just arrived. Reshma was puzzled and it came from the sky." She showed the route of the ball with her frightened eyes.

**Q1: What happened when Reshma's mother came to take her?**

**A1:** When Reshma's mother came to take her, she saw some movement in Reshma's lap and heard faint quacks.

**Q2: What was Reshma's reaction?**

**A2:** Reshma was puzzled and frightened.

Reshma's mother tried to pick it up but suddenly it bit her hand. "Ouch!" she cried. The duck fluttered on the floor and waddled in a corner of the room. All throughout the evening, Reshma and her mother tried to feed the duck. They put bread crumbs, nuts, fruits, and grains in front of it but it did not touch any of them.

**Q1: Name the things Reshma and her mother put before the bird to feed.

**A1:** Reshma and her mother put bread crumbs, nuts, fruits and grains before the bird to feed it.

**Q2: What happened when Reshma's mother tried to pick up the bird?**

**A2:** When Reshma's mother tried to pick up the bird, it bit her hand.

"He is Mitra," Reshma introduced the new friend. "Wow, lovely!" They helped Reshma to hold the bird while Reshma fed him with an ink filler. They had to leave soon to catch the school bus. "We will be back in the afternoon," they said. "Oh, sure, do come. We will play with Mitra." "He is so loving," said Bansi. "We will make him strong," said Kanu. "It is difficult to make new friends for Mitra because he is lame," said Anita.

Q1: Why, according to Anita, is it difficult for Mitra for making new friends?**

**A1:** According to Anita, it is difficult for Mitra to make new friends because he is lame.

**Q2: How did the children help Reshma?**

**A2:** The children helped Reshma to hold the bird while she fed him with an ink filler.

With the help of friendly hands, Reshma was taken down the stairs to the park from the balcony. Mummy looked at the broad smile on her daughter's face, brightened by the setting sun. Reshma never had reason to feel lonely again.

**Q1: Why was Reshma's mother happy?**

**A1:** Reshma's mother was happy to see the broad smile on Reshma's face.

Q2: Reshma would never be lonely again because...**

**A2:** Reshma would never be lonely again because the children had become her friends now.

📚 First Term Review (Units 5 & 6)

Unit 5: Rani Ki Vav 

The Queen's Stepwell, or Rani Ki Vav, is a seven-storeyed structure. This east-facing stepwell is 64 metres long, 20 metres wide, and 27 metres deep. Each sculpture, passage, pillar and pavilion in this magnificent structure has enchanting carving on its side walls. There are around 800 sculptures.

*Q1: What is carved on the side walls of the vav?**

**A1:** About 800 sculptures are carved on the side walls of the vav.

**Q2: How many storeys does the vav have?**

**A2:** The vav has seven storeys.

There are also some of the rare sculptures of gods here. One can find the statue of Lord Buddha with four hands, the statue of Rama with sword and shield, the statue of the Sun in the form of a tapasvi, the statue of Shiva with beads in his hand, the statue of Parshurama with a soft and gentle expression rather than having a hard and stern look.

*Q1: Which are the rare sculptures of the gods in the vav?**

**A1:** Some of the rare sculptures are Lord Buddha with four hands, Lord Rama with sword and shield, Sun in the form of a Tapasvi, and Lord Shiva with beads in his hand.

**Q2: How does the sculpture present Parshurama?**

**A2:** The sculpture presents Parshurama with a soft and gentle expression.

 Unit 6: The Night Train at Deoli 

When she came to my window, she stopped. She saw that I was looking at her. Initially, she pretended not to notice. She had pale skin, shiny black hair and dark eyes. And those eyes, searching and lively, met mine.

**Q1: How did the author react when he saw the girl for the first time?**

**A1:** When the author saw the girl for the first time, he could not stop staring at her.

**Q2: Describe the young girl.**

**A2:** The girl had pale skin, shiny black hair and dark eyes.

I was nervous and anxious as the train entered Deoli. I was wondering what I should say to the girl and what should I do. I was determined that I wouldn't stand helplessly before her.

**Q1: How did the author feel as the train entered Deoli?**

**A1:** The author felt anxious and nervous.

**Q2: What did he decide?**

**A2:** He decided that he would not stand helplessly before her.