Question

“Who doesn't know how to cook rice? Cooking rice hardly takes time.” said my

father. So, I challenged myself. I switched from news to YouTube and typed, “How to

cook rice?” I took one and a half cups of rice. Since I didn't have access to a rice

cooker, I put the rice in a big pot. Firstly, the rice has to be washed to get rid of dust

and starch. I thought I won't be able to drain the rice and that it will fall out of the

pot. I observed the chef as I swirled the rice around and used my dexterous hands to

drain it, not once, not twice, but three times. I looked down at the sink and saw less

than 50 grains that made their way out of the pot. Suffice to say, I was up to the

mark.

2. The video stated that the key to perfect rice is equal amounts of rice and water. I

have heard that professionals don't need to measure everything; they just know

what the right amount is. But as this was my first time in the kitchen, I decided to

experiment by not measuring the water needed for boiling the rice. I wanted the rice

to be firm when bitten, just like pasta. I don’t enjoy the texture of mushy rice. It has

to have that chutzpah; it has to resist my biting power just for a bit before disinte-

grating.

3. After what seemed like 10 minutes, all the water disappeared. I went in to give it a

good stir. To my surprise, some of the rice got stuck to the pot. I tried to scrape it off

but to no avail. At the same time, there was a burning smell coming from it. I quickly

turned the stove off. “What have you done to the kitchen?” shouted Mother, while

coming towards the kitchen. I managed to ward her off.
4. Finally, when the time came to taste my creation, I was surprised! It wasn’t bad at

all. The rice had the desired consistency. Sure, a little more salt would've been

better, but I just added that while eating. The experience was fairly rewarding and

memorable. It taught me a new sense of respect for those who cook food on a

regular basis at home or engage in gourmet creations professionally.

On the basis of your understanding of the above passage, answer ANY TEN questions

from the eleven given below. (1x10 = 10)

i. Father’s question to the narrator, about knowing how to cook rice, was intended to

a. criticize the narrator’s lack of abilities.

b. make the process sound simple.

c. encourage the narrator to take up cooking.

d. showcase his own expertise in cooking rice.

ii. “I switched from news to YouTube …” Pick the option in which the meaning of

‘switch(ed)’ is NOT the same as it is in the passage.

a. He switched on the radio to listen to the news while having dinner.

b. “Forget these diet supplements and switch to yoga, if you want a true sense of

well-being.”

c. Mom switched to reading fiction recently because she was bored with cook-books.

d. The company will switch the trucks to other routes to bring down city pollution.

iii. Based on your understanding of the passage, choose the option that lists the correct

sequence of the process.

1. Use water to wash the rice.

2. Repeat the process three times.

3. Drain the water off.

4. Put rice in a utensil.

5. Swirl the water in and around the rice.

a. 4,2,1,3,5

b. 1,3,2,5,4

c. 4,1,5,3,2

d. 5,1,2,4,3
iv. The narrator says that he has dexterous hands. He would have had a problem had it

been the opposite. NOT BEING dexterous means, being

a. uncomfortable.

b. clumsy.

c. unclear.

d. clueless.

vi. How did mother react to the burning smell?

a. She commented on it.

b. She brushed it asid
c. She enquired about it .

d. She handled it .

vii. According to the passage, the fact that the narrator risked experimentation, on his

maiden attempt in the kitchen, shows that he was

a. conscientious.

b. nervous.

c. presumptuous.

d. courteous.

viii. Pick the option showing the CORRECT use of the word ‘chutzpah’.

a. It is the court’s duty to dispense chutzpah to everyone irrespective of caste or creed.

b. The speaker may not have much of a stage presence, but you've got to admit she's

got chutzpah.

c. I could crack the code easily which proved me to be a chutzpah and I was the only

one who could do so.

d. After his father’s demise, the daughter took over the family’s chutzpah to save it

from disaster.

ix. Pick the option that correctly states what DID NOT happen after the writer checked on

the rice.

a. Turning the stove off.

b. Being taken aback at the condition of rice.

c. Forgetting to scrape the stuck rice.

d. Smelling the delicious aroma of cooked rice.

x. The narrator’s creation was

a. almost perfect to taste.

b. way off from what he wanted.
c. overly seasoned.

d. quite distasteful.

xi. Pick the option that correctly lists the final feelings of the writer with reference to the

cooking experience.

1. frustrating

2. amusing

3. satisfying

4. disillusioning

5. exacting

6. enlightening

a. 1 and 4

b. 2 and 5

c. 3 and 6

d. 1 and 3​

Answer 1

Answer:

i. b) make the process sound simple.

ii. a) “He switched on the radio to listen to the news while having dinner.

iii. c) 4,1,5,3,2

iv. b) clumsy

v a. a) image 1

(for visually impaired candidates)—

v b. (a) 50% water:50% rice

vi. d) She enquired about it in.

vii. c) presumptuous.

viii. b) The speaker may not have much of stage presence, but you've got to admit she's got

chutzpah.

ix. d) Smelling the delicious aroma of cooked rice

x. a) almost perfect to taste.

xi. c) 3 and 6.