Reading Comprehension Tips&Tricks|Unseen Passage in English|CBSE Class 12

Reading Comprehension Tips&Tricks|Unseen Passage in English

Reading Comprehension Tips&Tricks|Unseen Passage in English|CBSE Class 12|Final Exam. Unseen Passage in English|Class10/12|Reading Comprehension. This will cover your Question No. 1, which comes under Section 1, Reading Skills. In Class 12 English, it will be 22 marks, which means 25% credit. Students in Class 10 can also go ahead with this blog. You will also get a video on the topic, “Unseen Passage in English|Class10/12|Reading Comprehension Tips & Tricks”.

The purpose of reading is to gain comprehension. Readers are not reading if they can read the words but do not understand or relate to what they are reading. Good readers are both purposeful and active, with the ability to absorb, analyse, make sense of, and apply what they read. Before doing Reading Comprehension Passages, and Exercises for English Class 12th, understand the meaning of skimming, why we need skimming, and important steps while doing comprehension. I hope, the following discussion will boost your knowledge of Reading Comprehension.

Reading Comprehension Tips and Tricks:

1. Preview the Passage:
   • Before diving into the questions, skim through the passage to get a sense of the main idea, tone, and structure.
2. Focus on keywords:
   • Identify keywords in both the questions and the passage. Look for these terms to guide you to the relevant information.
3. Underline or highlight:
   • As you read the passage, underline or highlight key sentences or phrases. This can help you quickly locate information during question-solving.
4. Read Carefully:
   • Pay attention to the details and nuances in the passage. Understand the context, relationships between ideas, and the author’s tone.
5. Take Notes:
   • Take notes on right side of your answer sheet. Jot down brief notes as you read. These notes can help you remember crucial details when answering questions.
6. Answer in your own words:
   • When answering questions, try to express the ideas in your own words. This ensures you’ve comprehended the passage rather than memorised it.
7. Eliminate Wrong Answers:
   • If you’re unsure about an answer, eliminate options you know are incorrect. This increases your chances of selecting the right answer.
8. Prioritise easy questions:
   • Start with questions that seem easier to you. Tackle the straightforward ones first to build confidence before moving on to more challenging queries.
9. Manage your time:
   • Keep an eye on the clock. Allocate a specific time for each passage and question set to ensure you complete the entire comprehension section.
10. Practice Regularly:
    • Regular practice improves your reading speed, comprehension skills, and ability to answer questions efficiently. Use a variety of passages to diversify your exposure.
11. Practice at least 10 Unseen Passages for final examnation for class 12.

Remember, reading comprehension is a skill that improves with practice. Incorporate these tips into your study routine, and you’ll likely see improvement over time.

The purpose of reading is to gain comprehension. Readers are not reading if they can read the words but do not understand or relate to what they are reading. Good readers are both purposeful and active, with the ability to absorb, analyse, make sense of, and apply what they read. Before doing Reading Comprehension Passages, and Exercises for English Class 12th, understand the meaning of skimming, why we need skimming, and important steps while doing comprehension. I hope, the following discussion will boost your knowledge of Reading Comprehension.

What do you mean by skimming? How does it help comprehension?

Skimming is a method of strategic, selective reading in which you concentrate on the main ideas of a text. When skimming, skip text that contains details, stories, data, or other elaboration. Rather than reading every word, concentrate on the introduction, chapter summaries, first and last sentences of paragraphs, bold words, and text features. Skimming is the process of extracting the essence of the author’s main points rather than the finer points.

Courtesy: Giphy

Why do we need skimming?

• When reading, you need the big picture or major points.

• Even if you plan to read the book in-depth, skimming can help you better understand what you read.

• Knowing when and how to skim will make you a better reader.

• You’ll get better at determining the text’s importance.

• Sometimes your lecturer wants you to focus on the big picture rather than the minute details. In such conditions, skimming helps you grasp the text’s main ideas.

• Skimming helps in Maximum utilisation of time

• You can’t always read everything. Skimming lets you get through a lot of information quickly and gives you more time to do other things.

• Even if you don’t have time to finish your reading before class, skimming will help you remember the most important parts and help you learn more in class.

• Skimming is also a good technique to refresh your memory before an exam.

• Skimming a text helps to recall material and organisation.

Consider the following points while Skimming

• Read the passage carefully and find out the main points or theme explained in the passage.
• Underline the keywords like causes, results, and effects.
• Don’t ignore the signal words like versus, pros and cons, advantages and disadvantages.
• Read the passage at least two times.
• Now, read the questions again.
• Start the second reading of the passage. This reading should be exhaustive. Highlight key sentences or words related to the questions.
• Make every effort to use your own words. This means you must summarise and interpret information rather than copy entire ‘chunks’ from the passage.
• When answering factual questions, do not include information not provided in the passage.

While doing comprehension, keep the following steps in mind:

Step 1: Before looking at the questions, skim as quickly as possible to determine the main idea. At this point, don’t be concerned about unfamiliar words.

Step 2: Highlight the words you don’t understand to help you understand the passage completely. This will allow you to answer the vocabulary questions more quickly.

Step 3: Carefully read the words. It is recommended that you keep the order of the questions on the test paper. Read the section relevant to the answer carefully.

Step 4: Concentrate on the vocabulary items and find out the meanings of unfamiliar words from the context.

Reasons Behind Poor Reading Comprehension

The following are the main reasons behind poor reading comprehension:

• Ineffectiveness in understanding the words
• unable to understand the sentence.
• inability to understand the technical aspect of the paragraph.
• Inability to connect the sentences while doing comprehension.
• I am unable to understand the organisation of ideas in the paragraphs while doing reading comprehension.
• lack of interest in the subject.
• unable to concentrate on the subject.
• Lack of vocabulary while doing comprehension
• lack of concentration while doing comprehension.

Simple unseen passages for understanding of reading comprehension

Let us start with easy unseen passages for reading comprehension

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :

To make our life a meaningful one, we need to mind our thoughts, for our thoughts are the foundations, the inspiration and the motivating power of our deeds. We create our entire world
by the way we think. Thoughts are the causes and the conditions are the effects. Our circumstances and conditions are not dictated by the world outside; it is the world inside us that creates the outside. Self awareness comes from the mind, which means the soul. Mind is the sum total of the state of consciousness grouped under thought, will and feeling. Besides self- onsciousness, we have the power to choose and think. Krishna says, “No man resteth a moment inactive.” Even when inactive on the bodily plane, we are all the time acting on the thought plane. Therefore, if we observe ourselves, we can easily mould our thoughts. If our thoughts are pure and noble, naturally actions follow the same.
Questions : 1 × 4 = 4
(i) How can we make our life meaningful ?
(a) By praying to God
(b) By working hard
(c) By minding our thoughts
(d) By working for the poor

Ans. (c) By minding our thoughts
(ii) What is it that motivates our deeds ?
(a) Our thoughts
(b) Our actions
(c) Our surroundings
(d) Our relations

Ans. (a) Our thoughts
(iii) What constitutes our state of consciousness ?
(a) Our thoughts
(b) Our will
(c) Our feelings
(d) All the above

Ans. (d) All the above
(iv) How can we mould our thoughts ?
(a) By observing our surroundings
(b) By observing our seniors
(c) By observing our juniors
(d) By observing our ourselves

Ans. (d) By observing our ourselves

Check your Reading Comprehension Skills of The given Unseen Passage:

(v) What do our thoughts do?

(vii) Which word in the passage represent ‘controlling ides’?

(viii) What are the result of our thoughts?

2. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow( Set C):

Reading Comprehension of Unseen Passage

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow :
People travelling long distances frequently have to decide whether they would prefer to go by land, sea or air. Hardly can any one positively enjoy sitting in a train for more than a 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 small 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 more unpleasant, for it is quite impossible even to read. On motorways you can 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.
Questions : 1 × 4 = 4
(i) Why can’t a railway passenger enjoy sleep during the day ?
(a) People go on talking.
(b) Wheels produce noise.
(c) Sleep comes in snatches.
(d) Whistle breaks sleep.

Ans. (b) Wheels produce noise.
(ii) How does one spend half the night while crossing a frontier ?
(a) Staring at the small red light.
(b) Fumbling to find passport.
(c) Waiting for customs officers.
(d) Guarding your goods.

Ans. (b) Fumbling to find passport.
(iii) How does one feel on reaching the destination after a long train journey ?
(a) Fresh (b) Active
(c) Smart (d) Exhausted

Ans. (d) Exhausted
(iv) How are the long car journeys in comparison to train journeys ?
(a) Pleasant (b) Risky
(c) Unpleasant (d) Smooth

Ans. (c) Unpleasant

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow: 10
1 Last week, a wild elephant was radio-collared for the first time in Assam State Forest Department and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) India, it is being described as a step to study and mitigate human-elephant conflict. The department plans to collar at least five elephants in high-conflict habitats in the coming months. Experts say the exercise is challenging and runs the risk of low success.
2 What it means? Radio collars are GPS-enabled collars and can relay information about an elephant’s whereabouts. They weigh roughly 8 kg identifying a suitable candidate (generally an adult elephant), darting it with a sedative, and fitting the collar around its neck before it is revived. Additionally, the team also attaches an accelerometer to the collar to understand what exactly the elephant is doing at any given time (running, walking, eating, drinking, etc.).

3 Why is it done? The objectives are two-fold, said M.K. Yadava, Chief GPS would help us track and study the movement patterns of the herd, across regions and habitats, he said. Added Hiten Ba e will know where they are moving, which corridors they frequent, if the habitat is sufficient, if it needs protection, what is driving the conflict. The second objective is incidental : The collar would serve as an early warning system to people if elephants incidents, said veterinarian and elephant expert Kushal Konwar Sarma, who is involved in the exercise.
4 The Plan in Assam : In March 2020, the Ministry of Environment of Forest and Climate Change gave approval to collaring of five elephants nitpur and Biswanath districts. It set a number of of periodic reports. The Challenges : Collaring is an extremely time consuming and challenging exercise. We have to identify the matriarch of the herd we will tag ……. identification alone takes time
and involves us stalking them for days, said the elephant expert Sarma.

5 For there to go on foot. There is risk for very skilled experts on board and they are doing the job with utmost care. officials said, not all components for radio collaring are available in India including collars and tranquilising drugs. These have to be imported and are another challenge. Also elephants grow collars may become tight, so we usually take a senior elephant so there is less chance Baishya said, They will have it on for maximum six months, before it falls off , id Bibhuti Lakhar, a senior scientist. Last year, an elephant, which had strayed into Guwahati from Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary in 2019, was radio-collared on a trial basis. We monitored it for a month, but due to the weight of the belt and the elephant brushing against trees, the signal was feeble and ultimately the collar fell off, aid a forest official.

6 Is it worth it ? Yadava said while there were risks and the success rate was low, there has been no better mechanism than collaring to study conflict long-term.
Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the question below: 10*1=10
Q. (i) Show evidence from the passage that radio collaring of elephants is a challenging task.

Ans. The radio-collaring of elephants is a challenging task because they have to be imported and soon become tight and fall down.

Q. (ii) What purpose is served by radio collaring of elephants ? 1

Ans. The purpose of radio collaring is to track and study the movements of the elephant.
Q. (iii)Which device in the collar gives information about the elephant’s activities ? 1

Ans. Radio collars with GPS give information about the elephant’s moments.
Q. (iv) What are the twin objectives of collaring the elephants ? 1

Ans. The twin objectives of collaring the elephants are to track them at the moment and, second, the collar would serve as an early warning system to people if elephant incidents occur.

Q. (v) What two conditions are prescribed by the concerned Ministry for collaring elephants ? 1

Ans. The weight of the collar shouldn’t be more than 8 kg and should be on the neck for a maximum of six months.
Q. (vi) Why is collaring a time consuming exercise ? 1

Ans. Collaring is a time-consuming exercise as darting it with a sedative and fitting the collar around its neck is very difficult. Second, the identification of the matriarch of the herd is again a difficult task.
Q. (vii) Why is it not advisable to put a collar on a young elephant ? 1

Ans. It is not advisable to put a collar on a young elephant, as the young elephant will grow and become fat and the collar will become tight.
Q. (viii) Why does the collar fall off from the elephant’s neck? 1

Ans. The collar falls off from the elephant’s neck as the weight of the belt and the elephant brush against trees.
Q. (ix) Find the word in the passage which means “to make a person or animal unconcious”. (Para 5) 1

Ans. tranquilising

Q. (x) What is the main idea in the paragraph?

Ans. Saving animals with help of technology.

Q. (xi) A wild elephant was radio-collared:

(a) study and mitigate human-elephant conflict.

(b) to check the weight

(c) trace the location of elephant.

(d) both b and c

Read the following text. 12 marks and answer the questions

Arthur lay in his cabin, still trying to piece together the events of the last few hours. He had watched
his home planet of Earth be demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass, been saved by his
friend Ford, and then whisked away on a ship that was powered by an “infinite improbability drive.”
It was all too much for him.
Just then, Ford stuck his head around the door.
“Hey, Earthman,” he said, “come and have a look at this.”
Arthur stumbled after him down a corridor and into the ship’s control room. He gazed in amazement
at the banks of controls and flashing lights. In the center of the room was a large console covered in
buttons and switches, and in the middle of the console was a small, white mouse.
“What’s that?” asked Arthur.
“That’s the ship’s computer,” said Ford.
Arthur stared at the mouse. “That’s a computer?” he said.
“Yup,” said Ford. “Five-dimensional, biologically-based, super intelligent, and in the form of a white
lab mouse. Pretty neat, huh?”
“I don’t know,” said Arthur. “I don’t think I really understand anything anymore. Why is a mouse the
ship’s computer?”

“It’s a long story,” said Ford. “But the short version is that the mice built the Earth as a giant computer
to figure out the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. Then they ran out of money
and had to destroy it to make way for a hyperspace bypass. So now they’re using the Heart of Gold to
finish the calculation.”
Arthur was about to say something, but at that moment the ship’s intercom crackled to life.
“Good evening, Heart of Gold,” said a smooth, computerized voice. “This is Eddie, your shipboard
computer. I’m feeling a bit depressed today. Would you like me to sing you a song?”
“Oh, not again,” groaned Ford.
“Eddie, would you mind shutting up?” said Arthur.
Arthur sighed and leaned back against the console, trying to make sense of everything. But as he
closed his eyes, he heard a voice inside his head.
“Hello?” it said.
Arthur jumped, startled. “Who’s there?” he said.
“It’s me,” said the voice. “Marvin.”
“Marvin?” said Arthur. “Who’s Marvin?”
“The Paranoid Android,” said the voice.
Arthur looked around, but he didn’t see anyone. “Where are you?” he said.
“I’m down here,” said the voice.
Arthur looked down and saw a small, metal figure shuffling across the floor. It was about three feet
tall, with a round head and a body that looked like it had been cobbled together from spare parts. Its
eyes were a dull red, and its voice was a monotone.
“I’ve been waiting for someone to talk to me for over two million years,” said Marvin.
Adapted – An excerpt from “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” by Douglas Adams / 444 words
Answer the following questions, based on the passage above.
i Select the option that classifies Arthur’s confusion about drastic events such as the
destruction of his home planet and the introduction of new technologies, correctly.
A. Routine and boredom
B. Adventure and excitement
C. Loss and change
D. Calm and relaxation
1

i) Arthur’s confusion about drastic events such as the destruction of his home planet and the introduction of new technologies is correctly classified as: C. Loss and change
ii What is the significance of the white lab mouse in the control room of the Heart of Gold
spaceship?
A. It is the captain of the ship
B. It serves as the ship’s computer
C. It is a pet of the crew
D. It is used for scientific experiments
1

ii) The significance of the white lab mouse in the control room of the Heart of Gold spaceship is: B. It serves as the ship’s computer.
iii Share evidence from the text, in about 40 words to support the view that the writer’s writing
style is descriptive and humourous.
2

iii) Evidence from the text supporting the view that the writer’s writing style is descriptive and humorous: The author describes the ship’s computer as a “five-dimensional, biologically-based, super-intelligent” mouse in a tone that suggests amusement and surprise.
iv Complete the sentence appropriately with a characteristic or its description.
Based on the information given in the excerpt, one can infer that the mice who built the Earth
are ____________.
1

iv) Based on the information given in the excerpt, one can infer that the mice who built the Earth are advanced and technologically capable.
v Select the option that is similar in meaning to Ford’s expression , “Pretty neat, huh?”.
A. Easy , isn’t it?
B. Could be worse, no?
C. Impressive, yes?
D. Too difficult for you?
1

v) Ford’s expression, “Pretty neat, huh?” is similar in meaning to: C. Impressive, yes?
vi Explain, in about 40 words, why the name “The Paranoid Android” is considered ironic. 2
vii In the line, “…a body that looked like it had been cobbled together from spare parts…”, what
comparison does the word “cobbled” refer to?
1

vi) The name “The Paranoid Android” is considered ironic because the term “paranoid” suggests extreme and irrational fear, but Marvin, the android, appears more depressed and resigned than paranoid.
viii How does the following, impact the reader, even though they know Marvin is just an android?
“I’ve been waiting for someone to talk to me for over two million years,” said Marvin.
Answer in about 40 words.
2

vii) In the line, “a body that looked like it had been cobbled together from spare parts,” the word “cobbled” refers to: assembled or put together in a rough and improvised manner.

viii How does the following, impact the reader, even though they know Marvin is just an android?
“I’ve been waiting for someone to talk to me for over two million years,” said Marvin.
Answer in about 40 words.

The statement “I’ve been waiting for someone to talk to me for over two million years,” said Marvin, creates a poignant and lonely atmosphere. Despite the reader knowing Marvin is an android, the longing expressed evokes a sense of empathy and sadness for his isolation.
ix Read the five headlines (a) -(e), given below:
(a) HUMANITY’S JOURNEY WITNESSED BY A DEPRESSED ROBOT
(b) HITCHHIKING THROUGH SPACE: A COMICAL TAKE ON THE END OF THE WORLD
(c) NEW STUDY FINDS ALIENS LIVING AMONG US
(d) GROUNDBREAKING TECHNOLOGY WILL SOON ENABLE TIME TRAVEL
(e) INTERGALACTIC TRAVEL VIA NEW INFINITE IMPROBABILITY DRIVE
Identify the option that displays the headline/s that DOES/ DO NOT correspond with
occurrences in the passage.
1
A. Only (a)
B. (b) (c) and (d)
C. Only (e)
D. (a) and (e)

ix) The option that displays the headline(s) that do not correspond with occurrences in the passage is D. (a) and (e).

Ans. (a) study and mitigate human-elephant conflict.

(i) (a)

(ii) Water, air, soil, and trees are the natural resources without which we can’t continue to live.

(iii) The writer talks about “celebrating the progress” during World Conservation Day, where things are discussed to protect nature.

(iv) d

(v) b

(vi) Forests and rivers provide us food, air, and water to protect mankind.

(vii) d

(viii) Population explosion is the major reason behind the depletition of natural resorces at very fast pace.

(ix) to try and practise a sustainable lifestyle to protect and conserve nature.

(x) (b) Save Nature Save Life

Question 2.

Answers:

(i) Not Given- If there is information on this

(ii) The companies demand exemplary performance from their employees because there is competition among enterprises.

(iii) (c) when there are chances to get financial gratifiction

(iv) The two factors that display the work performance of both categories are team spirit and work environment.

(v) We can say this because of the chances of promotion and relaxed working environment.

(vi) (d) happy

(vii) The 45-60 age group workers are motivated by ‘respect from coleagues’.

(viii) No, Prospect of a promotion.

(ix) The internal factors affecting work performances are spirit, competent boss, respect from colleagues and job satisfaction.

(x) (c) happiness

Question 1.

Answers:

(i) Not Given- If there is information on this

(ii) The companies demand exemplary performance from their employees because there is competition among enterprises.

(iii) (c) when there are chances to get financial gratifiction

(iv) The two factors that display the work performance of both categories are team spirit and work environment.

(v) We can say this because of the chances of promotion and relaxed working environment.

(vi) (d) happy

(vii) The 45-60 age group workers are motivated by ‘respect from coleagues’.

(viii) No, Prospect of a promotion.

(ix) The internal factors affecting work performances are spirit, competent boss, respect from colleagues and job satisfaction.

(x) (c) happiness

Frequently Asked Questions: Comprehension

What is the connection between word reading and reading comprehension?

• Reading consists of two parts: word recognition and language comprehension. Both are required for reading comprehension to take place.
• Children who struggle with word reading, on the other hand, will read the text more slowly and may not be able to decode all of the important words accurately.
• This can result in significant reading comprehension deficits.
• Strong word reading thus contributes significantly to the ease and quality of a child’s reading comprehension.

What do mean by reading comprehension, and why is it required?

• Reading comprehension refers to the ability to read text, process it, and comprehend its meaning.
• It is based on two interconnected skills: word reading and language comprehension.
• We don’t merely remember what we read when we comprehend a text.
• Reading with purpose requires good comprehension.

What factors contribute to good comprehension?

• Background information and vocabulary
• Abilities in integration and inference
• Comprehension of language structure/connections
• Understanding and application of text structure
• Monitoring comprehension

Does the amount of time students spend reading affect their comprehension skills?

• Reading time always improves students’ comprehensive skills because they understand the topic better when they devote more time to reading.
• Reading to young children and helping them in building positive reading mindsets can help them develop a habit that will allow them to build competency skills and knowledge throughout their careers.