Direction: You have a passage with 5 questions. Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.
PASSAGE
Long ago in Mongolia there lived an emperor who feared growing old. One day, he saw an old man in the street. Upset at being reminded that someday, he too, would age, he ordered all the old people to leave his land. One day, a violent storm swept the kingdom. Nothing was safe from its fury. It roared into the palace and blew away the emperor’s belongings, including his priceless golden pitcher. When the storm ended, the emperor ordered that the pitcher be found and brought back to him. People went in search of the pitcher. They saw it in a lake nearby. But no matter who tried, no one could get a grip on the pitcher. All they got was a handful of water. Yet it could be plainly seen, glittering and just below the water’s surface!
SOME IMPORTANT WORDS
pitcher : a container with a handle, for holding and pouring liquids
grip : an act of holding somebody/something tightly

Direction: You have a passage with 5 questions. Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each question out of the four alternatives.
PASSAGE
Developed in New Zealand in the 1990s, originally as a means of crossing water, zorbing involves rolling downhill in a large, PVC ball, and an activity which requires no more skill than that of a hamster running inside its wheel. The three-metre zorb has two skins, with the area between them inflated to provide effective cushioning and so prevent zorbonauts from hurting themselves as they hurtle along at speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour. Zorbers are also harnessed inside the ball to stop them moving around. In ‘Hydrozorbing’ however, you have to do away with the straps and slide around in a bucket or two of water. This version can be enjoyed alone, or you can share the experience with up to two other people inside the same zorb. But don’t be surprised if you get the odd bump or bruise!
SOME IMPORTANT WORDS
hamster : an animal lika a large mouse
bruise : injury
hustle : to move very fast in a particular direction.
harnessed : controlled and fastened