Dear Aspirants,
As you all know that NICL AO mains exam is near.One of the most important part of these Exams is Descriptive Writing Exam that test Your writing skills, here we are providing you Comprehension WRITING Which can be asked in the NICL AO Exams.
Direction: Read the following passage and answer in your own words the questions that follow:
People travelling long distances frequently have to decide whether they would prefer to go by land, sea or air. Hardly anyone can positively enjoy sitting in a train for more than few hours. Train compartments soon get cramped and stuffy. It is almost impossible to take your mind off the journey. Reading is only a partial solution, for the monotonous rhythm of the wheels clicking on the rails soon lulls you to sleep. During the day, sleep comes in snatches, At night when you really wish to go to sleep, you rarely manage to do so. If you are lucky enough to get a couchette, you spend half the night staring at the blue light in the ceiling, or fumbling to find your passport when you cross a frontier. Inevitably you arrive at your destination almost exhausted.
Long car journeys are even less pleasant, for it is quite impossible even to read. On motor – ways you can at least travel fairly safely at high speeds, but more often than not, the greater part of the journey is spent on narrow, bumpy roads which are crowded with traffic. By comparison, trips by sea offer a great variety of civilized comports. You can stretch your legs on the spacious decks, play games, swim, meet interesting people and enjoy good food – a;ways assuming, of course that sea is always calm. If it is not, and you are likely to get sea – sick, no form of transport could be worse. even if you travel in ideal weather, sea journeys take a long time. Relatively few people are prepared to sacrifice up to a third of their holiday for the pleasure of travelling on a ship.
Aeroplanes have the reputation of being dangerous and even hundred travelers are intimated by them. They also have the grave disadvantage of being the most expensive form of transport. Travelling at a height of 30,000 feet, far above the clouds, and at over 500 miles an hour is an exhilarating experience. You do not have to devise ways of taking your mind off the journey, for an aeroplane gets you to your destination rapidly. for a few hours , you settle back in a deep armchair to enjoy the flight. The real escapist can watch a free film show and sip a hot or cold drink on the services. But even when such refreshments are not available, there is plenty to keep you occupied. An aeroplane offers you an unusual breathtaking view of the world. You soar effortlessly over high mountains and deep valleys. You really see the shape of the land. If the landscape is hidden from view, you can enjoy the extraordinary sight of unbroken clouds planes that stretch out for miles before you, while the sun shines brilliantly in a clear sky. The journey is so smooth that there is nothing to prevent you from reading or sleeping, however you decide to spend your time, one thing is certain: you will arrive at your destination fresh and uncrumpled. You will not have to spend the next few days recovering from a long and arduous journey.
- Answer the following questions briefly in your own words as far as possible.
(1) Why is it difficult to read on a train in long distance journeys? Give Two reason.
(2) What are two disadvantages of travelling by sea?
(3) What are the two disadvantages of travelling by car?
(4) What are the pleasure of air – flight according to the writer?
(5) Why does the writer dislike long car journeys?
Answers:
(1) It is difficult to read on a train in long distance journeys because
(a) The Compartment soon gets cramped and stuffy.
(b) The monotonous noise of wheels on the rails and the noise of passengers distract our attention.
(2) (a) A traveler becomes sea – sick.
(b) In a ideal weather, sea journeys always take long time.
(3) (a) It is a dangerous and risky journey.
(b) It is rather an expensive form of transport.
(4) (a) One can enjoy the scenes of high mountains and valleys.
(b) one can see the shape of the land.
(5) The writer dislikes long car journey because reading is quite impossible. - Find words in the above passage which convey similar meaning as the following.
(a) pieces
(b) feel around
(c) causing excitement
Answers :
(a) piece = snatches
(b) feel around = fumbling
(c) causing excitement = exhilarating.
