READING COMPREHENSION
1. Standing tall against the Chennai skyline, with the azure blue of the ocean as the
backdrop, the Santhome Basilica Cathedral is indeed an imposing structure. On
entering the church, you are filled with a strange sense of peace. You forget
the hustle and bustle that awaits you outside. In the cool, dark interior there
is a calm that is all-pervasive. Built in the Gothic style the spire rises to a
height of about 155 feet. The Basilica Cathedral is one of the three basilicas
built over the tombs of the apostles of Jesus Christ. Their stained-glass
windows are a marvel in themselves. The altar window is a magnificent depiction
of Christ pardoning the „doubting‟ Thomas surrounded by the other 10 apostles.
It was made in Munich in 1870, in the studio of Franz Mayer, and then
transported to Madras (now Chennai).
2. According to tradition, it is believed that St. Thomas came to India in the year 52 A.D. He
worked initially along the west coast and then traveled to Madras. He suffered
martyrdom at a mountain, which is now called, St. Thomas‟ mount and his
disciples buried him in Santhome over which the present cathedral stands. The
sand of the tomb, the faithful believe, has miraculous healing powers.
3. Marco Polo during his travels also visited India. About his visit to the shrine in
1292 he records. “It is in this province (Malabar) at the gulf between Ceylon
and the mainland that the body of Messer St. Thomas lies at a certain town
having no great population; it is a place not very accessible.
4. When the Portuguese arrived at Mylapore in 1517 they were surprised to find a shrine
there. But the shrine itself was almost in ruins. The Portuguese took it upon
themselves to rebuild the church in 1523. This church became a parish in 1524.
5. But over the centuries, the elements took their toll on this small church and it
was in dire need of repair. In 1893, this structure was demolished and the
present church was built. The tomb of the saint was placed at the heart of the
structure.
6. A retired officer of the Royal Engineers who happened to be a parishioner
volunteered to take on the job. The predominant feature of a Gothic structure
is its tall spires. At the Santhome Basilica Cathedral, what strikes you
immediately is the first spire. The second and shorter one is constructed above
the tomb of the saint. The tomb of the saint could now be accessed from within
the church and pilgrims the world over come to worship here. It was in 1956
that the church was declared a minor Basilica.
7. In 2002, extensive renovation and restoration work was carried out. The access to
the tomb from within the cathedral was closed and an alternate and more
convenient access was provided from the outside. “Now pilgrims and tourists can
visit the tomb and spend a few minutes of quiet without disturbing the service
and devotion of the faithful, “says Fr. Lawrence Raj, the parish priest.
(1.1) On the basis of your reading of the passage, complete the following statements.
(a) Two reasons why the pilgrims come to Santhome Basilica Cathedral are
(i) _________________________________________________
(ii) _________________________________________________
(b) Regular religious service at Santhome Basilica no longer gets disturbed because ______________________________________
(c) The most predominant feature of the basilica is _____________
(d) The church was declared a minor Basilica in the year _________
(1.2) Answer the following questions in brief :
(a) How is Santhome Basilica Cathedral an imposing structure?
(b) What is the belief about the sand of the tomb and why?
(1.3) Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following from the paragraphs indicated.
(a) impressive to look at (Para 1)
(b) great in amount (Para 7)
Answers
Answer:
READING COMPREHENSION
1. Standing tall against the Chennai skyline, with the azure blue of the ocean as the
backdrop, the Santhome Basilica Cathedral is indeed an imposing structure. On
entering the church, you are filled with a strange sense of peace. You forget
the hustle and bustle that awaits you outside. In the cool, dark interior there
is a calm that is all-pervasive. Built in the Gothic style the spire rises to a
height of about 155 feet. The Basilica Cathedral is one of the three basilicas
built over the tombs of the apostles of Jesus Christ. Their stained-glass
windows are a marvel in themselves. The altar window is a magnificent depiction
of Christ pardoning the „doubting‟ Thomas surrounded by the other 10 apostles.
It was made in Munich in 1870, in the studio of Franz Mayer, and then
transported to Madras (now Chennai).
2. According to tradition, it is believed that St. Thomas came to India in the year 52 A.D. He
worked initially along the west coast and then traveled to Madras. He suffered
martyrdom at a mountain, which is now called, St. Thomas‟ mount and his
disciples buried him in Santhome over which the present cathedral stands. The
sand of the tomb, the faithful believe, has miraculous healing powers.
3. Marco Polo during his travels also visited India. About his visit to the shrine in
1292 he records. “It is in this province (Malabar) at the gulf between Ceylon
and the mainland that the body of Messer St. Thomas lies at a certain town
having no great population; it is a place not very accessible.
4. When the Portuguese arrived at Mylapore in 1517 they were surprised to find a shrine
there. But the shrine itself was almost in ruins. The Portuguese took it upon
themselves to rebuild the church in 1523. This church became a parish in 1524.
5. But over the centuries, the elements took their toll on this small church and it
was in dire need of repair. In 1893, this structure was demolished and the
present church was built. The tomb of the saint was placed at the heart of the
structure.
6. A retired officer of the Royal Engineers who happened to be a parishioner
volunteered to take on the job. The predominant feature of a Gothic structure
is its tall spires. At the Santhome Basilica Cathedral, what strikes you
immediately is the first spire. The second and shorter one is constructed above
the tomb of the saint. The tomb of the saint could now be accessed from within
the church and pilgrims the world over come to worship here. It was in 1956
that the church was declared a minor Basilica.
7. In 2002, extensive renovation and restoration work was carried out. The access to
the tomb from within the cathedral was closed and an alternate and more
convenient access was provided from the outside. “Now pilgrims and tourists can
visit the tomb and spend a few minutes of quiet without disturbing the service
and devotion of the faithful, “says Fr. Lawrence Raj, the parish priest.
(1.1) On the basis of your reading of the passage, complete the following statements.
(a) Two reasons why the pilgrims come to Santhome Basilica Cathedral are
(i) _________________________________________________
(ii) _________________________________________________
(b) Regular religious service at Santhome Basilica no longer gets disturbed because ______________________________________
(c) The most predominant feature of the basilica is _____________
(d) The church was declared a minor Basilica in the year _________
(1.2) Answer the following questions in brief :
(a) How is Santhome Basilica Cathedral an imposing structure?
(b) What is the belief about the sand of the tomb and why?
(1.3) Find words from the passage which mean the same as the following from the paragraphs indicated.
(a) impressive to look at (Para 1)
(b) great in amount (Para 7)