Direction: Read the following passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.
PASSAGE
In the history of Britain, the period from 1837 to 1901 is known as the Victorian Age. The period saw the long and prosperous reign of Queen Victoria in England. Charles Dickens was the most popular novelist of this period. He became famous for his depiction of the life of the working class, intricate plots and sense of humour. However, it was the vast galaxy of unusual characters created by him that made him more popular than any of his contemporaries. Drawn from everyday life and the world around him, these characters were such that readers could relate to them. Beginning with The Pickwick Papers in 1836, Dickens wrote numerous novels, each uniquely filled with believable personalities and vivid physical descriptions. According to Dickens’ friend and biographer, John Forster, Dickens made “characters real existences, not by describing them but letting them describe themselves.”
SOME IMPORTANT WORDS
(1) depiction (N.) : the act of describing something in words, or giving an impression of something in words or a picture
(2) intricate (Adj.) : having a lot of different parts and small details that fit together
(3) contemporaries (N.) : belonging to the same period of time

Direction: Read the following passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.
PASSAGE
Like watering a plant, we grow our friendships (and all our relationships) by nurturing them. Friendships need the same attention as other relationships, if they are to continue. These relationships can be delightfully non-judgemental, supportive, understanding and fun. Sometimes a friendship can bring out the positive side that you never show in any other relationship. This may be because the pressure of playing a ‘role’ (daughter, partner or child) is removed. With a friend you are to be yourself and free to change. Of course, you are free to do this in all other relationships as well, but in friendships: you get to have lots of rehearsals and discussion about changes as you experience them. It is an unconditional experience where you receive as much as you give. You can explain yourself to a friend openly without the fear of hurting a family member. How do friendships grow? The answer is simple. By revealing yourself; being attentive remembering what is most showing empathy, seeing the world through the eyes of your friend, you will understand the value of friendship. All this means learning to accept a person from a completely different family to your own or perhaps someone from a completely different cultural background. This is the way we learn tolerance. In turn we gain tolerance and acceptance for our own differences.
SOME IMPORTANT WORDS
(1) nurturing (V.) : to care for and protect somebody/ something while they are growing and developing
(2) empathy (N.) : understanding and entering into another’s feelings