Children At Work - Reading Comprehension

NCERT Board-Based Reading Comprehension Passages
Grade 8 Supplementary Reader
Chapter 2 Children at Work

Reading Comprehension 1

     WHEN the Kanyakumari Express pulled in at Chennai Central, it took Velu some time to get off. When he finally stood on the platform, his legs felt wobbly, as if he was still on a moving train.

     “Oy, out of the way!” A porter went by with a loaded trolley. Velu jumped aside.

     He sat on a bench on the platform, putting his small bundle down. In all his eleven years, he had never seen so many people, except once a year at the fair in his village. People walked by, bumping into him with their suitcases. A voice announced something on a loudspeaker. Near him a group of people sat on their luggage, looking at a TV hanging from the roof. The noise was terrible.

 

     Velu put his head down on his knees, feeling miserable and exhausted. He had run away from his village two days ago. For two days he had eaten nothing but some peanuts and a piece of jaggery. In his bundle he carried a shirt, a towel and a comb.

 

     He had walked for most of the first day to Kanur and then got on the train to Chennai. Velu had no money for a ticket but luckily the ticket collector didn’t come to the unreserved compartment. He had tried to sleep on the floor near the door. A group of men next to him had played cards and shouted all night.

 

     “Aiy! What, new to town eh?” called out a rough voice.

 

1. Velu's legs felt wobbly on the platform because: a) He was exhausted from walking b) He was still on a moving train c) He was pushed by a porter with a loaded trolley d) He was nervous about being in a crowded place 2. What did Velu eat during his two-day journey to Chennai? a) Rice and vegetables b) Peanuts and jaggery c) Bread and cheese d) Fruits and biscuits 3. Why did Velu not have a ticket for the train to Chennai? a) He lost his ticket b) He couldn't afford one c) The ticket collector didn't come to the unreserved compartment d) He forgot to buy a ticket 4. What was the noise like at the train station? a) Pleasant and soothing b) Terrible and unbearable c) Soft and melodious d) Quiet and peaceful 5. The rough voice that called out to Velu at the train station belonged to: a) A policeman b) A stranger trying to help c) The ticket collector d) A porter with a loaded trolley

Reading Comprehension 2

Velu opened his eyes. There were a lot of people standing around, but nobody was looking at him.

     “Here! Aiy!”

     He turned around. Behind him was a girl around his own age, wearing a long banian that came down to her knees. Her hair was stiff and brownish and she had a huge sack on one shoulder. She was picking up dirty plastic cups from the floor and stuffing them into her sack. Why is she calling me, thought Velu. And why is a girl wearing a banian?

     “No need to stare stupidly. What’s your name?”

     “Velu,” muttered Velu, looking away.

 

     “So Mr. Velu,” said the girl, looking at his bundle. “Run away from home?”

     Velu didn’t answer. He didn’t want to tell some strange girl what he had done. He had run away because he couldn’t stand his father beating him for one more day. His father would snatch away all the money Velu and his sisters earned and spend it on drink.

 

     “Don’t think I don’t know. This place is full of children like you. So what are you going to do here? Become rich?”

     She sat down next to him. Velu shifted away slightly.

     He felt hunger pinching him and pressed his stomach with a grimace. “Hungry?” asked the girl. “You won’t get food by sitting here glumly, making faces. I can find some if you want.”

     She picked up her sack and started to walk away. Velu stayed on the bench. What should he do? Should he follow this girl? Where was she going to take him? She was disappearing into the crowd, so he had to make up his mind quickly. Alright, he decided. Anyway I have no idea where to go. He jumped up and ran after her. She wasn’t even looking back to see where he was.

1. Why did Velu run away from home?

   a) He wanted to explore the city

   b) His father treated him poorly and beat him

   c) He wanted to find a better job

   d) He was bored with village life

2. What was the girl carrying on her shoulder?

   a) A bag of books

   b) A sack for collecting plastic cups

   c) A large suitcase

   d) A basket of fruits

3. Why did the girl think there were many children like Velu in the city?

   a) Because the city was famous for its schools

   b) Because the city had many job opportunities for children

   c) Because children often ran away from their villages

   d) Because she had seen many children like Velu before

4. How did Velu feel when the girl offered to find him food?

   a) Excited and hopeful

   b) Nervous and scared

   c) Indifferent and uninterested

   d) Suspicious and doubtful

5. Why did Velu decide to follow the girl?

   a) Because he knew her and trusted her

   b) Because he had no other option and didn't know where to go

   c) Because he wanted to explore the city

   d) Because he wanted to help her collect plastic cups

Reading Comprehension 3

He caught up with the girl as she was leaving the station. When they got to the road, Velu found that the vehicles kept coming and never stopped for anyone. Smoke and dust flew at him from all sides, making his head spin. They had to wait for a long time before they could find a gap to run through. Velu kept hesitating and the girl finally dragged him to the other side.

     “What do you think you’re doing? Grazing cows? If you stand around in the middle of the road like that, you’ll be chutney.”

 

     Velu’s heart was still beating fast. He looked back at Central Station and the traffic speeding by. How had they managed to come through that? They walked along the side of the road under some huge signboards. Velu looked up at the pictures: banians, car tyres, pens, a woman holding a box. The writing was all in English, so he didn’t know what it meant.

1. What was Velu's initial reaction to the busy road? a) Excitement b) Fear and hesitation c) Eagerness to cross d) A sense of adventure 2. How did the girl react to Velu's hesitation on the road? a) She scolded him and called him names b) She laughed at him and made fun of him c) She patiently waited for him to decide d) She left him behind and continued walking 3. What did Velu observe on the huge signboards along the road? a) Pictures of animals b) Advertisements in English c) Maps of the city d) Warnings about traffic rules 4. How did Velu feel while walking beside the busy road? a) Bored and tired b) Curious and interested c) Anxious and overwhelmed d) Confident and enthusiastic 5. Why was Velu unsure about the writing on the signboards? a) He couldn't read English b) The writing was in a different language c) The signboards were too high to see properly d) He was too distracted by the traffic to notice the writing

Reading Comprehension 4

The girl turned onto a wide bridge and walked up. Velu stopped and peeped over the railing. Under him, the road ran into the city. In the distance he could see huge buildings and towers and more roads.

     “See that big building with the wall around it? If you’re not careful, you’ll soon be counting bars there.” The girl grinned and pointed at a huge building.

 

     Velu squinted and read the Tamil sign, Central Jail.

     “Why? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

     “You don’t have to do anything. Just don’t get caught, that’s all.”

     What does she mean, Velu wondered. Meanwhile the girl was already heading down the bridge with the sack on her shoulder. What was in it? He had seen her putting plastic cups into it at the station.

     “What are you carrying in that bag?”

     “Things, bottles, paper.”

     Velu wondered what she was doing with them, but he felt shy to ask any more questions.

1. What did Velu see from the bridge?

   a) A river

   b) Huge buildings and towers

   c) A park

   d) A market

2. What did the girl point out to Velu near the bridge?

   a) A school

   b) A hospital

   c) A police station (Central Jail)

   d) A shopping mall

3. Why did Velu feel puzzled about the girl's warning regarding the Central Jail?

   a) He didn't understand Tamil

   b) He thought she was joking

   c) He believed he had done nothing wrong

   d) He was worried about getting caught

4. What did Velu observe the girl putting into her sack at the station?

   a) Books and stationery

   b) Plastic cups

   c) Food and snacks

   d) Toys and games

5. Why did Velu feel shy to ask the girl more questions about her sack?

   a) He was scared of her reaction

   b) He was too curious

   c) He didn't want to appear nosy

   d) He didn't want to talk to strangers

Reading Comprehension 5

  It was still morning but the sun blasted down on the tar and Velu’s bare feet burned. It was not like walking on a mud road. He was soaked with sweat. He tried hard to walk in the shade and keep up with the girl at the same time. She walked really fast. How far away was the food?

 

     After almost an hour of walking, they stopped in front of a big building. Sri Rajarajeshwari Prasanna Kalyana Mandapam read Velu slowly. A sign with letters made of flowers said, Groom: J. V. Vinayagan, Bride: Rani. Velu stared at the big cars parked outside. One of the cars had a flower garland and roses taped onto it. The girl looked around, pulled one off quickly and stuck it in her hair.

     “Come on,” she said.

     “Are we going to eat here?” asked Velu, looking at the huge hall and the people inside.

 

     “Hopes!” said the girl shaking her thumb under his nose. She led him behind the hall. There was a big garbage bin overflowing with rubbish. Two goats were standing on the pile, fighting for a banana leaf. A cloud of flies buzzed around their legs. There was a rotten smell in the air. The girl picked up a squashy banana and held it out to Velu.

 

     “Here’s your food.”

     Velu was shocked. “Are we going to eat their leftovers?”

     “Chey! What do you think I am? A dog? I only take untouched food. Here, some more, catch!” She threw him a vada. Velu looked at it with distaste.

 

     “Come on, hero, eat it! You think I like it? I told you I’ll find you something to eat. Don’t think I have money to buy food for you. You’d better eat what you get until you have your own money.”

1. How did Velu feel due to the scorching sun and his bare feet on the tar road?

   a) Comfortable

   b) Cold

   c) Burning sensation

   d) Refreshed

2. What was the name of the big building they reached?

   a) Rajarajeshwari Prasanna Kalyana Mandapam

   b) Central Jail

   c) Chennai Central

   d) Jam Bazaar Jaggu

3. Why did Velu feel shocked when the girl offered him the food?

   a) He thought it was too little food

   b) He was surprised by her generosity

   c) He didn't like the smell of the food

   d) He thought it was leftover food from the garbage bin

4. Why did the girl put a flower from the parked car in her hair?

   a) She wanted to look pretty

   b) She wanted to impress Velu

   c) She wanted to sell the flower

   d) She did it playfully without a specific reason

5. How did Velu feel about eating the food offered by the girl?

   a) Excited and hungry

   b) Indifferent and uninterested

   c) Satisfied and grateful

   d) Disgusted and reluctant

Reading Comprehension 6

 Velu hesitated, but his stomach squeezed him again. He gulped down the banana and vada. His stomach felt better immediately. He could have eaten at least ten times more, but the girl could find only one more banana which she ate herself.

 

     “It’s too early, they’ve only eaten tiffin. If you’re still hungry, you’ll have to wait for them to finish lunch. You can wait if you want. I have to work, I’m going.” She picked up a couple of bottles from the heap and threw it into her sack. Then she walked off.

     Velu panicked. He realised that if the girl left him, he had no idea where he was and what to do. It was better to stick to her, she seemed to know her way around. He ran after her again.

 

     “Aiy!” he called. He did not even know the girl’s name. “Aiy, what is your name?” he asked hurrying behind her.

 

     She stopped and turned around. “Oho! So you’ve been following me around without even knowing my name. Jaya.”

     “I’m not following you.”

     “What then? Who got you food?”

     “Can I come with you? Where are you going?”

     “Come if you want. This bag is full, I have to go home to get another one.”

1. Why did Velu gulp down the banana and vada offered by the girl? a) He was excited to try new food b) His stomach was hungry and in pain c) He wanted to impress the girl d) He wanted to eat quickly and leave 2. Why did Velu panic when the girl said she had to leave for work? a) He was scared of being alone in an unfamiliar place b) He didn't like the girl's company c) He didn't want to wait for lunch to be over d) He was afraid of getting lost in the city 3. What did Velu ask the girl to know more about her? a) What she had in her sack b) Where she was going c) If he could join her d) What her name was 4. What did the girl reveal as her name when Velu asked? a) Jaya b) Rani c) Vinayagan d) Rajarajeshwari 5. Why did the girl mention going home to get another bag? a) To have lunch b) To change her clothes c) To take a rest d) To continue her work as a ragpicker

Reading Comprehension 7

 Jaya and Velu walked along the roads for half an hour, until they came to a bridge across a dirty trickle of water. “We are in Triplicane now. See, that’s Buckingham Canal,” said Jaya.

 

     Velu stared. This was a canal? Near some puddles of water was a row of the strangest huts he had ever seen. They were built out of all sorts of things — metal sheets, tyres, bricks, wood and plastic. They stood crookedly and looked as if they would fall any moment.

 

     “Is this where you live? These houses are strange!” said Velu. “In our village, the houses are made of mud and palm leaves.”

     Jaya went around to one of the huts and dumped her sack outside. Then she picked up an empty one.

 

     “Let’s go.”

     She turned to Velu and gave him a shove. “At least help me now. Here, wear these and come with me.”

     She threw him a pair of old shoes without laces and pushed a sack and a stick into his hands. Velu was confused. What work did she want him to do with these things? The only work he had ever done was on the landowner’s farm, weeding and taking cows out to graze.

     “Are there any farms in the city?” he asked Jaya.

 

     She laughed and thumped her stick on the ground. “Farms! There are no farmers here. We are ragpickers.”

1. What was the place called where Jaya and Velu arrived?

   a) Triplicane

   b) Buckingham Canal

   c) The Bridge

   d) Dirty Trickle of Water

2. How did Velu feel about the houses in the area?

   a) Fascinated

   b) Attracted

   c) Amused

   d) Strange

3. What material were the houses built from in the area?

   a) Metal sheets, tyres, bricks, wood, and plastic

   b) Mud and palm leaves

   c) Cement and steel

   d) Stone and glass

4. What work did Velu do in his village before coming to the city?

   a) Ragpicking

   b) Farming and herding cows

   c) Construction work

   d) Selling goods at a market

5. What did Velu ask Jaya about in relation to the city?

   a) If there were any schools

   b) If there were any farms

   c) If there were any hospitals

   d) If there were any parks

Reading Comprehension 8

 “Ragpickers?”

“See my sack? Full of things I collected.”

“Collected? From where?” asked Velu.

 “From rubbish bins, where else?”

 “You collect rubbish?” Velu had never heard of such a thing “Ayye, blockhead. It’s not any rubbish. Only paper, plastic, glass, such things. We sell it to Jam Bazaar Jaggu.”

Velu was puzzled. He had heard of people throwing away rubbish. But why would anyone want to buy rubbish?

“Who’s Jam Bazaar Jaggu? Why’s he buying all this?”

“You think he buys it for show? He sells it to a factory. Come on, I don’t have time to waste, like you.”

Velu did not move. He hadn’t run away and come to this new place to dig through garbage bins. Jaya poked at him with her stick.

“Look here!” she shouted. “If someone gets there before us we don’t get anything. Don’t just stand there, posing. Big hero. I’m trying to help you. Who filled your stomach today?”

Velu scratched his head and sighed. I’ll do it for now, he thought, until I find a better job.

1. What did Velu think of the idea of collecting rubbish? a) He found it fascinating b) He thought it was a great way to earn money c) He was confused and puzzled d) He didn't like the idea at all 2. Why did Velu question why someone would buy rubbish? a) He thought it was useless and had no value b) He wanted to know more about recycling c) He thought it was a trick or scam d) He was curious about Jam Bazaar Jaggu's business 3. Who is Jam Bazaar Jaggu? a) A factory owner b) A ragpicker like Jaya c) A person who sells rubbish d) A person who buys collected items 4. Why did Jaya poke Velu with her stick and call him a big hero? a) To make him laugh b) To tease and taunt him c) To encourage him to join her d) To show her affection for him 5. How did Velu feel about the idea of collecting rubbish? a) Excited and motivated b) Reluctant but willing to try c) Bored and uninterested d) Embarrassed and ashamed