1. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: 8
On Dec. 26, 2004 nature shocked us. It was a black day for the world. Nature blinded us by unleashing the demon named as Tsunami, which came to life through a gigantic earthquake in the Indian Ocean. It affected countries from Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Malaysia to India, Bangladesh, Maldives and even France, Kenya and Somalia. The worst in four decades, it battered an endless coastline of south and south-east Asia, with the toll nearing some 2,00,000 of which some 11,500 deaths are in India alone. The word 'Tsunami' comes from the Japanese words 'Tsu' (harbour) and 'Nami' (wave). About 80% of all tsunamis occurred in the Pacific Ocean and Japan has suffered many times. Tsunamis could be better described as a wave train, or series of waves caused in a sea or ocean by submarine earthquakes. These killer waves of the nature which occurred on the fateful Sunday, could be generated when the water was disturbed by the uplift or subsidence of the sea flour. Cape Lopakta in Siberia, witnessed the highest tsunami ever recorded, in 1737. The wave rose 210 ft. above sea level. Another demoniac tsunami wave more than seven stories tall, engulfed whole villages along Sanriku, Japan in 1896 drowning almost 26,000 people. We can only pray to Mother Nature not to show this cruelty to us. Questions:
|
2. Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions that follow: 8
Sabarimala is in the Western Ghats and is named after Sabari, the tribal woman mentioned in the Ramayan, who attained salvation after her meeting with Ram. Sabrimala is believed to be the abode of Lord Ayyappa and is visited by about one crore pilgrims every year. For 41 days, devotees follow a controlled lifestyle. They eat only vegetarian food; refrain from consuming alcohol or tobacco and follow personal cleanliness and celibacy. Pilgrims wear only black clothes and don't shave irrespective of caste, creed, social status or religious belief, anyone can worship at the temple. All pilgrims are referred to as 'swamy' during the pilgrimage. Offerings to Ayyappa are tied in a bag with two compartments, known as irumudi. This contains a ghee-filled coconut, puffed and beaten rice, camphor, betel leaves and nuts, and incense sticks. Pilgrims carry the offerings on their heads throughout the arduous journey chanting the slogan Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa, which means, 'Oh Ayyappa ; I seek refuge in you'. The 18 steps to the temple represent the 18 Puranas. Close to the temple's entrance, there is a temple to a Muslim disciple, Vavar Swamy, while those of two tribal Chiefs, Kadutha Swamy and Karuppa Swamy, are positioned on either side of the steps.. Questions:
|