📝 CUET English 2025: RC on Indoor Air Pollution | The Hindu Passage Analysis 🔍
CUET English 2025 🔥 | Practice a powerful Reading Comprehension based on an editorial from The Hindu on Indoor Air Pollution. Learn how to approach RC questions, boost your Verbal Ability, and understand key vocabulary from CUET previous year trends.
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✔️ Synonyms/Antonyms/Vocabulary
✔️ Paragraph structure & tone
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Summary of the Passage (300 Words)
The article titled “Indoor air pollution: can better design help protect our health?” by Zubeda Hamid, published in The Hindu, explores the pervasive issue of indoor air pollution in India and its impact on human health. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is compromised by various factors, including the burning of solid fuels like coal and biomass for cooking, industrial fumes, tobacco smoke, and chemical cleaners. These pollutants contribute to a range of health hazards, such as respiratory issues, cardiovascular diseases, and even cancer, as highlighted by Dr. Balakrishnan of the Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai. The article notes that nearly 70% of urban homes in India exceed safe pollution levels, posing significant risks.
The passage emphasizes that while outdoor air pollution often garners attention, indoor pollution is equally critical, especially in a country where many rely on traditional cooking methods. Dr. Balakrishnan identifies building activities—such as the use of materials like asbestos or inadequate ventilation—as additional contributors to poor IAQ. The COVID-19 pandemic further underscored this issue, with studies showing a link between indoor air quality and infection rates.
Better building design is proposed as a solution. Features like improved ventilation, natural lighting, and the use of plants can enhance IAQ. An investigative study during the 2021 lockdown in India revealed that inadequate ventilation and high carbon dioxide levels worsened health outcomes. The article suggests that designing buildings with open spaces, strategic window placement, and materials that reduce pollutant retention can mitigate these risks. However, retrofitting existing structures, especially older ones, remains challenging. The author advocates for a public health approach, urging architects and policymakers to prioritize IAQ in new constructions. Despite the complexity, small changes—like increasing ventilation and incorporating greenery—can significantly improve indoor environments, making this a viable strategy to protect public health.
10 Reading Comprehension (RC) Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
- What is the primary focus of the article by Zubeda Hamid?
a) Outdoor air pollution in India
b) The impact of indoor air pollution and design solutions
c) Industrial fume management
d) COVID-19 health policies
Answer: b
Explanation: The article centers on indoor air pollution’s health effects and how better building design can address it. - According to Dr. Balakrishnan, what percentage of urban homes in India exceed safe pollution levels?
a) 50%
b) 70%
c) 80%
d) 90%
Answer: b
Explanation: Dr. Balakrishnan states that nearly 70% of urban homes exceed safe pollution levels. - Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a source of indoor air pollution?
a) Tobacco smoke
b) Chemical cleaners
c) Vehicle exhaust
d) Biomass burning
Answer: c
Explanation: Vehicle exhaust is an outdoor pollutant, while the others are indoor sources. - What health issue is linked to poor indoor air quality according to the passage?
a) Skin diseases
b) Cardiovascular diseases
c) Eye infections
d) Bone disorders
Answer: b
Explanation: The passage mentions cardiovascular diseases among health risks of poor IAQ. - How did the COVID-19 pandemic highlight indoor air quality issues?
a) Increased outdoor pollution
b) Linked IAQ to infection rates
c) Reduced building construction
d) Improved ventilation standards
Answer: b
Explanation: Studies during the pandemic showed a connection between IAQ and infection rates. - What is a suggested solution to improve indoor air quality?
a) Using more asbestos
b) Enhancing ventilation
c) Reducing natural light
d) Increasing chemical use
Answer: b
Explanation: Better ventilation is proposed to mitigate indoor pollution. - What challenge is associated with improving older buildings?
a) High cost of materials
b) Difficulty in retrofitting
c) Lack of skilled labor
d) Insufficient space
Answer: b
Explanation: Retrofitting existing structures, especially older ones, is noted as challenging. - What role do plants play in building design according to the article?
a) Increase pollution
b) Enhance air quality
c) Block sunlight
d) Raise carbon dioxide
Answer: b
Explanation: Plants are suggested to improve indoor air quality. - During which period was an investigative study on IAQ conducted?
a) 2019
b) 2020
c) 2021 lockdown
d) 2022
Answer: c
Explanation: The study was conducted during the 2021 lockdown in India. - Who should prioritize indoor air quality according to the author?
a) Students
b) Architects and policymakers
c) Farmers
d) Shopkeepers
Answer: b
Explanation: The author urges architects and policymakers to focus on IAQ.
20 Antonyms and Synonyms Together
| Word | Synonym | Antonym |
|---|---|---|
| Pollution | Contamination | Purity |
| Health | Wellness | Illness |
| Hazard | Risk | Safety |
| Exceed | Surpass | Fall short |
| Compromise | Jeopardize | Protect |
| Ventilation | Airflow | Stagnation |
| Investigate | Examine | Ignore |
| Enhance | Improve | Worsen |
| Retention | Holding | Release |
| Mitigate | Alleviate | Aggravate |
| Significant | Notable | Insignificant |
| Strategy | Plan | Chaos |
| Complex | Complicated | Simple |
| Viable | Feasible | Impractical |
| Incorporate | Include | Exclude |
| Retention | Preservation | Loss |
| Challenge | Difficulty | Ease |
| Natural | Organic | Artificial |
| Strategic | Planned | Random |
| Public | Community | Private |
20 Verbal Ability MCQs
- Choose the correct synonym for “Hazard”:
a) Safety
b) Risk
c) Ease
d) Joy
Answer: b
Explanation: “Risk” is a synonym for “Hazard.” - Select the antonym of “Enhance”:
a) Improve
b) Worsen
c) Boost
d) Elevate
Answer: b
Explanation: “Worsen” is the opposite of “Enhance.” - Rearrange to form a sentence: (A) is (B) air (C) quality (D) important
a) A, B, C, D
b) B, C, D, A
c) C, D, A, B
d) D, A, B, C
Answer: b
Explanation: “Air quality is important” is the correct sentence. - Fill in the blank: The room needs better _____.
a) Pollution
b) Ventilation
c) Noise
d) Darkness
Answer: b
Explanation: “Ventilation” fits as it relates to air quality improvement. - Choose the correct spelling:
a) Vantilasion
b) Ventilation
c) Ventelation
d) Vantilation
Answer: b
Explanation: “Ventilation” is the correct spelling. - Identify the part of speech of “Investigate”:
a) Noun
b) Verb
c) Adjective
d) Adverb
Answer: b
Explanation: “Investigate” is a verb meaning to examine. - Select the correct sentence:
a) She go to school everyday.
b) She goes to school every day.
c) She gone to school everyday.
d) She going to school every day.
Answer: b
Explanation: “She goes to school every day” is grammatically correct. - What is the plural of “Hazard”?
a) Hazards
b) Hazardes
c) Hazardies
d) Hazardss
Answer: a
Explanation: “Hazards” is the correct plural form. - Choose the correct meaning of “Mitigate”:
a) Increase
b) Alleviate
c) Ignore
d) Complicate
Answer: b
Explanation: “Mitigate” means to alleviate or reduce. - Fill in: She ____ the room with plants.
a) Filled
b) Fill
c) Fills
d) Filling
Answer: a
Explanation: “Filled” is correct in past tense context. - Select the antonym of “Simple”:
a) Easy
b) Complex
c) Clear
d) Plain
Answer: b
Explanation: “Complex” is the opposite of “Simple.” - Rearrange: (A) health (B) is (C) wealth
a) A, B, C
b) C, B, A
c) B, C, A
d) A, C, B
Answer: a
Explanation: “Health is wealth” is the correct sentence. - Choose the synonym for “Notable”:
a) Insignificant
b) Significant
c) Small
d) Minor
Answer: b
Explanation: “Significant” is a synonym for “Notable.” - Identify the error: She don’t like pollution.
a) Don’t
b) Like
c) Pollution
d) No error
Answer: a
Explanation: “Don’t” should be “doesn’t” to agree with “She.” - Fill in: The study was ____ during the lockdown.
a) Conducted
b) Ignored
c) Forgotten
d) Lost
Answer: a
Explanation: “Conducted” fits the context of a study. - Choose the correct prefix for “Ventilation”:
a) Un-
b) In-
c) Re-
d) Pre-
Answer: c
Explanation: “Re-ventilation” can imply renewing air flow. - Select the antonym of “Release”:
a) Free
b) Retention
c) Let go
d) Liberate
Answer: b
Explanation: “Retention” is the opposite of “Release.” - What is the meaning of “Viable”?
a) Impossible
b) Feasible
c) Unworkable
d) Difficult
Answer: b
Explanation: “Viable” means feasible or workable. - Choose the correct sentence structure:
a) Running she is fast.
b) She is running fast.
c) Is she running fast.
d) Fast she is running.
Answer: b
Explanation: “She is running fast” is grammatically correct. - Fill in: Better design can ____ health risks.
a) Increase
b) Reduce
c) Ignore
d) Create
Answer: b
Explanation: “Reduce” aligns with the passage’s solution focus.
