Read the following passages and answer the questions that follow. Though the house and grounds belonged to my grandparents, the magnificent old banyan tree was mine— chiefly because Grandfather, at sixty-five, could no longer climb it. Its spreading branches, which hung to the ground and took root again, forming a number of twisting passages, gave me endless pleasure. Among them were squirrels and snails and butterflies. The tree was older than the house, older than grandfather, as old as Dehra Dun itself. I could hide myself in its branches, behind thick green leaves, and spy on the world below. My first friend was a small squirrel. At first, he seemed to resent my invasion of his privacy. But when he found that I did not arm myself with a catapult, he became friendly, and when I started bringing him pieces of cake and biscuit he grew quite bold and was soon taking food from my hand. Before long, he was delving into my pockets and helping himself to whatever he could find. (Source: An extract from The Banyan Tree, by Ruskin Bond) Read the statements given below and tick the correct option to complete each statement. 1. The writer says that the tree belonged to him because (a) his grandfather had gifted it to him. (b) his grandfather was too old to climb it. (c) he was very fond of it. (d) his friend the squirrel lived in it. 2. The tree was (a) as old as the grandfather. (b) as old as the house. (c) as old as Dehra Dun. (d) as old as the writer. 3. The writer could hide behind the trees because (a) it was old. (b) it had branches with thick green leaves. (c) he was small. (d) there were many creatures on the tree. 4. Which of the following happened first in the story? (a) the squirrel delved into my pocket. (b) the squirrel resented my presence. (c) the squirrel started taking food from my hands. (d) the squirrel became friendly. 5. The main purpose of the last paragraph was (a) to describe the banyan tree. (b) to describe what the squirrel liked to eat. (c) to describe the writer’s friendship with the squirrel. (d) to describe the creatures living in the tree.
Answers
Reading a passage and answering the questions that follow :
1. The writer says that the tree belonged to him because (b) his grandfather was too old to climb it.
2. The tree was (c) as old as Dehra Dun.
3. The writer could hide behind the trees because (b) it had branches with thick green leaves.
4. At first, in the story, the squirrel resented the presence of the narrator. (Option b is correct)
5. The main purpose of the last paragraph was (c) to describe the writer’s friendship with the squirrel.
Answer:
1. The writer says that the tree belonged to him because (b) his grandfather was too old to climb it.
As his grandfather is a old man, he could no longer climb it so the narrator take advantage of it saying it will be his tree forever.
2. The tree was (c) as old as Dehra Dun.
"As old as Dehra Dun" is a phrase which means that the tree was very old just like the city Dehra Dun.
3. The writer could hide behind the trees because (b) it had branches with thick green leaves.
The writer said one can hide behind the tree leaves because it was thick and greeny.
4. The thing which first happened in the story is (b) the squirrel resented the presence of the narrator.
The narrator seemed new to the squirrel so the squirrel resented his presence.
5. The main purpose of the last paragraph was (c) to describe the writer’s friendship with the squirrel.
The last paragraph explains how the narrator created a bond of friendship with the squirrel.